In single wafer manufacturing, wet cleaning chambers help reduce water use, prevent exposure to air, and minimize damage to fragile chips. Photo by Advanced Packaging Magazine.
The relatively new industrial focus on sustainable, or clean, manufacturing aims to maximize the reuse and recycling of natural resources. Water is a major raw material consumed during the manufacture of chips. Much of it is highly purified and used only once. Semiconductor manufacturers are now investigating methods of reducing the amount of water used per square inch when making silicon chips.
Improving processing
Advanced rinsing techniques that reduce water consumption are being developed and incorporated into the chip-making process. New purification technologies are being created to treat used water and remove impurities. The rigorous cleanliness standards required in each step of the chip-making process allow the water to be recycled and reused rather than simply being discharged from the process.
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