Altech Chemicals’ high purity alumina to be used in semi-conductor applications

Now high purity alumina (HPA) is being used in the manufacture of epoxy moulding compounds (EMC’s) that are used in the semi-conductor industry to improve heat dissipation, said Altech Chemicals Limited, leading Malaysia-based HPA producer. Altech also recently started an investigation of the EMC for semi-conductor market for targeting some of its future HPA products into this market segment.

Altech's initial investigation into the demand for HPA in the EMC semi-conductor market indicates a global market size in the range of 700 – 900 tonnes per annum, with a price of US$100 per kg being commanded by product that meets required specifications. Year-on-year growth in the market is expected along with the growth in the semi-conductor business. Altech believes that its low sodium HPA and the morphology of its HPA could be ideal for the EMC semi-conductor application.

According to the report, Altech will likely start the development of a product specification that would match the market sector's requirements.

Typically, industrial-strength epoxy compounds are used for the package assembly of semi-conductors, as the epoxy compounds provide the required physical protection, mechanical strength, as well as a number of desired performance properties – primarily in relation to heat and moisture, both of which can destroy a semi-conductor, warp an electronic device (that the semi-conductor is used in), or even cause a device to catch fire.