3 July 2018

SDK plans third expansion of high-grade SiC epi production in two years

© Semiconductor Today Magazine / Juno PublishiPicture: Disco’s DAL7440 KABRA laser saw.

Tokyo-based Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) is to further expand its capacity for producing high-quality-grade silicon carbide (SiC) epitaxial wafers for power semiconductors - marketed as ‘High-Grade Epi’ (HGE) - following the current expansion work on HGE production facilities. When the current work finishes in September, HGE production capacity will have increased from 5000 wafers per month (equivalent, for 1200V-breakdown power devices) to 7000 wafers per month. After the additional expansion work, scheduled to finish in February 2019, capacity will have increased to 9000 wafers per month.

Compared with conventional silicon-based semiconductors, SiC-based power semiconductors operate under higher-temperature high-voltage and high-current conditions, while conserving energy substantially. These features enable device makers to produce smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient next-generation power control modules, which allow dispersion-type power sources to utilize new energy sources. Used in power modules for servers in data centers and inverter modules for railcars, SiC-based power semiconductors are also replacing conventional semiconductors in on-board battery chargers and rapid charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs), with the rapid expansion of the EV market.

SDK claims that its SiC epiwafer business is rated by power semiconductor manufacturers for the lowest incidence of crystal defects and the highest wafer homogeneity. In the last two years, SDK has begun expansions of its HGE production facilities twice, in September 2017 and January 2018. The firm has now decided to expand further in response to growing demand, resulting from rapid growth in the market for SiC-based power semiconductors.

See related items:

SDK to expand high-grade SiC epi capacity further to 7000 wafers per month by September

SDK expanding high-grade SiC epi production capacity from 3000 to 5000 wafers per month

SDK expands capacity of high-grade SiC epi for mass production to 3000 wafers per month

SDK to start shipping very low-defect-density SiC epiwafers

Showa Denko launching 6" SiC epiwafers for inverter power devices

Tags: SDK SiC epitaxy

Visit: www.sdk.co.jp