July 14, 2020 – Showa Denko (SDK; TSE:4004) has developed wet-resistant heat-conductive aluminum nitride filler to be used as heat-radiation filler for semiconductor devices. SDK has started to offer samples of the aluminum nitride filler.
In accordance with the development of semiconductor devices with more power, heat generated in semiconductor devices continues to increase. On the other hand, progress in downsizing and high-density integration of semiconductor devices makes it more difficult to radiate heat from inside to outside of them. Accumulated heat may have harmful effects including a decline in efficiency, reliability and safety not only on semiconductor devices themselves but also on electronic devices in which those semiconductor devices are installed. Thus, it is very important for electronic device manufacturers to remove generated heat quickly in order to avoid these harmful effects of accumulated heat.
Aluminum nitride has excellent properties including high insulation against electricity, almost the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of silicon, and corrosion resistance against chlorinated gases which is used in the process to produce semiconductors. Aluminum nitride also has thermal conductivity higher than those of other fillers such as alumina and boron nitride. However, if moisture sticks to the surface of aluminum nitride, aluminum nitride starts to hydrolyze, and corrosive ammonia is produced. It was a weakness of aluminum nitride. This time, however, SDK successfully developed a technology to treat a surface of aluminum nitride with ultra-thin film which drastically reduce the amount of corrosive ammonia produced when moisture sticks to the surface of aluminum nitride, to ten-thousandth of that of aluminum nitride without the surface treatment. This surface treatment does not reduce thermal conductivity of aluminum nitride filler injected into resins. With this innovative surface treatment technology, SDK has successfully developed aluminum nitride filler which has excellent wet resistance and high thermal conductivity. Through offer of samples, we will develop a new market for this aluminum nitride filler, and plans to start mass production of the filler in 2023.
The Showa Denko Group’s Vision is to make itself a “KOSEIHA Company” (a group of KOSEIHA Businesses that can maintain profitability and stability at high levels over a long period). Through offer of best solutions, SDK will respond to the demands of customers in the semiconductor device industry which is expected to continue showing rapid growth under the development of new technologies including 5G mobile communication technology and CASE (Connected, Autonomous/Automated, Shared, and Electric) related technologies in the automotive industry. In this way, we aim to establish a new KOSEIHA business.
For details of this technology, please access:
https://www.sdk.co.jp/innovation/english/points/aln_filler.html
About Showa Denko K.K.
Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TSE:4004, ADR:SHWDY) is a major manufacturer of chemical products serving from heavy industry to computers and electronics. The Petrochemicals Sector provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene, the Chemicals Sector provides industrial, high-performance and high-purity gases and chemicals for semicon and other industries, the Inorganics Sector provides ceramic products, such as alumina, abrasives, refractory/graphite electrodes and fine carbon products. The Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra high bright LEDs, and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery components. For more information, please visit www.sdk.co.jp/english/.