Category Archives: Quick Dump Rinsers

How Quick Dump Rinsers Improve Wet Processing Results

Posted on by

While effective and rapid rinsing with a low particle count remains a key benefit of quick dump rinsers, reduced water usage is also becoming more important. Special design measures can lower the amount of water required to rinse the silicon wafers while retaining fast and efficient operation with a low level of particle contamination.

Low water consumption is especially important in some regions such as the Western U.S., where a long-term drought makes water conservation mandatory. Even in other areas, a reduced use of the deionized water used in silicon wafer fabrication saves money and is environmentally responsible. Modutek has pioneered the design of quick dump rinsers that feature efficient use of deionized water, fast operation, and low particle entrapment.

Quick Dump Rinser Benefits that Incorporate Reduced Water Usage

Modutek’s quick dump rinsers feature a state-of-the-art design for efficient operation while minimizing rinse time, reducing the particle count, and keeping deionized water usage to a minimum. Modutek’s quick dump rinsers offer the following characteristics:

  • Efficient Rinsing. The units have dual spray manifolds and low misting nozzles for quick and complete rinsing away of chemical residues.
  • Nitrogen Bubbler. The bubbler generates nitrogen bubbles as the tank fills, removing additional contaminants and particles.
  • 360 Degree Overflow Weir. As the dislodged impurities rise to the surface, they are flushed away across the overflow weir and out of the tank.
  • Programmable Water Use. Modutek’s quick dump rinsers can be programmed to use less water.
  • Contoured Bottom. The rinser bottom is contoured around a wafer cassette, reducing the amount of water required.
  • Large Machined Trap Door. The machined trap door doesn’t need gaskets or seals that could trap particles, and the large size lets water drain rapidly.
  • Polypropylene Construction. High-quality smooth polypropylene construction ensures that the tank is not a source of contamination with new particles.
  • Automatic Dump and Refill. The rinsing controller can be set to automatically dump and refill every two hours, reducing bacterial growth and minimizing the possibility of contamination.
  • Optional Reclaim System. An optional reclaim system further reduces water consumption and lowers costs.
  • Variety of Standard Sizes. Modutek offers seven standard tank sizes for their quick dump rinsers, and can accommodate many special customer needs.

Modutek has designed the quick dump rinser to operate as a stand-alone unit or for integration into a silicon wet etching process line. The rinser can improve the overall performance of the line and lower costs while reducing the number of defective products.

Benefits of Using Modutek’s Quick Dump Rinser

Modutek’s design is based on extensive experience working with wet process equipment to address key customer concerns. Benefits include the following:

  • The reduced water consumption due to rapid rinsing and a water-conserving design lowers costs and reduces the environmental impact.
  • The machined trap door and laminar flow of rinsing water reduce the particle count and improve output quality.
  • The smooth polypropylene construction avoids additional contamination and reduces the percentage of rejects.
  • Quick rinsing allows increased throughput for the production line and reduces costs.

From its close working relationship with customers, Modutek can address the challenges manufacturers often have with meeting higher product densities, smaller silicon structures, and increasing regulation with using chemicals and water. Modutek continuously works to improve silicon wafer processing capabilities, while keeping in mind the overall costs of ownership and efficient wafer processing.

Modutek Provides Innovative Solutions to Meet Customer Needs

Modutek’s quick dump rinsers represent years of innovative design and development. These systems let semiconductor manufacturers and research facilities reduce water consumption while increasing output and reducing the number of product defects. Overall facility performance is improved through cost reduction and improved output quality. Contact Modutek for a free quote or consultation to discuss your specific processing requirements at 866-803-1533 or email modutek@modutek.com.

How Quick Dump Rinsers Improve Silicon Wet Etching Processes

Posted on by

How Quick Dump Rinsers Improve Silicon Wet Etching ProcessesWhen silicon wafers in a wet etching process need rinsing, quick dump rinsers provide fast and effective rinsing of chemicals and particles. In semiconductor fabrication lines such as those of semiconductor manufacturers and research labs, silicon wafers are etched with chemicals. Once the required structures and current paths have been etched into the silicon, the chemicals have to be rinsed off to prevent continued etching. Modutek’s quick dump rinser uses de-ionized water to wash away all traces of chemicals while introducing no new sources of particle contamination. When rinsing is complete, the quick dump rinser drains rapidly. It combines excellent rinsing performance with fast processing and reduced particle counts.

What Makes a Quick Dump Rinser is Efficient and Effective?

Modutek has applied state-of-the-art engineering techniques to design a quick dump rinser that reduces de-ionized water consumption while featuring a short rinsing time and particle reduction. The large trap door and the contoured rinsing vessel shorten dump times and promote laminar flow to rinse away contaminants. The machined dump door has no seals or gaskets that could entrap particles and the smooth polypropylene construction of the tank ensures that it is not a source of new particle contamination.

When the silicon wafers are placed in the rinser, de-ionized water jets rinse the chemicals from the wafer surfaces. The tank fills, bringing the rinsed contaminants to the surface where they leave the tank through the overflow weir. A nitrogen bubbler generates gas bubbles that rise through the water, removing additional contaminants and particles. At the end of the rinse cycle, the trap door at the bottom of the tank opens to quickly drain the water. The whole process is fast and rinsing is complete without added contamination.

Quick Dump Rinsers Provide Substantial Benefits

The use of quick dump rinsers can improve production line performance and output quality. Modutek has designed its quick dump rinser to address wet process manufacturing concerns, including water use, rinsing effectiveness, particle counts and timing. When quick dump rinsers work rapidly, effectively removing chemicals and particles, throughput can increase and the product rejection rate can go down.

Fast rinsing reduces de-ionized water use. Modutek’s 360-degree overflow weir lets contaminated water exit the tank easily and reduces particle entrapment. Dual overhead spray manifolds and low misting nozzles improve rinsing performance with an even distribution of the spray. The nitrogen gas bubbler and tank design promote an even flow around the wafers and the large dump door drains the tank completely in seconds.

Key benefits include reduced costs, fewer product defects and faster production line operation. Reduced de-ionized water use lowers costs and an optional reclaim system can result in additional savings.

The tight packing of semiconductor structures and their decreasing size makes the process more and more sensitive to particle contamination. Even the tiniest particle can cause defects in the final product. Modutek’s quick dump rinser is designed to reduce particle counts and the product failure rate can decrease as a result.

Rinsing is required after many of the wet process production steps and any time saved with a quick dump rinser is multiplied by the number of times rinsing takes place in the semiconductor fabrication production line. The Modutek quick dump rinser delivers these benefits by addressing overall semiconductor manufacturing requirements.

Modutek Works to Improve the Silicon Wet Etching Process for Customers

In addition to quick dump rinsers, Modutek is committed to helping its customers with standard and custom silicon wet etching equipment. The company’s complete wet process product line includes quartz tanks, Teflon tanks and silicon nitride etch baths. Modutek offers free consultation and can ensure that the delivered systems fulfill the needs of its customers.

How Quick Dump Rinsers Improve Silicon Wet Etching Results

Posted on by

Manufacturing lines in semiconductor fabrication facilities and research labs use corrosive chemicals to clean and etch silicon wafers. Depending on the semiconductor product, a silicon wafer may undergo multiple steps in baths containing chemicals such as hydrochloric acid or hydrogen peroxide. When the cleaning or etching process in a particular fabrication step is complete, the chemicals must be rinsed from the wafer before the silicon wafer can be processed further. Quick Dump Rinsers provide a quick and effective way of thoroughly rinsing the wafers without introducing new contaminants.

How Quick Dump Rinsers Work

Once wafers are placed into the rinser, powerful jets spray de-ionized water over the wafers to remove all traces of chemicals. As the rinse tank fills up, chemical residue and contaminating particles are flushed out and rise to the surface. A nitrogen gas bubbler system serves to agitate the de-ionized water further, removing additional contaminants from the surface of the wafers. An overflow weir allows the surface water to flush the chemicals and particles out of the tank. When the rinsing process is complete, the quick dump door at the bottom of the tank opens and the water drains out in a matter of seconds.

The key characteristics of a Quick Dump Rinser are rapid operation, complete removal of contaminants and avoiding the addition of new contamination. Rapid operation helps reduce the use of de-ionized water and saves process time. If traces of chemicals are not completely removed, etching of the wafer might continue and result in defective or low quality products. The same is true if particles are not eliminated or are added during the rinse. Since rinsing has to be carried out at the end of many process steps, Rinser performance is critical for product output quality.

Modutek’s DR Series Quick Dump Rinser Features

Modutek’s Quick Dumps Rinsers are designed to meet the needs of advanced semiconductor fabrication. Wet process semiconductor manufacturing facilities and research labs can use the Modutek rinsers as stand-alone units or integrated into a wet process manufacturing line. The rinsers work quickly and deliver completely clean wafers. They incorporate the following features:

  • Contoured vessel design
  • Nitrogen bubbler on all models
  • Natural polypropylene or PVDF (option) tanks, nozzles and fittings
  • Large machined dump door without gaskets or seals
  • 360 degree overflow weir

Modutek’s design minimizes de-ionized water consumption and reduces rinse times while ensuring effective rinsing. The tanks require a de-ionized water supply, a source of pressurized nitrogen and a 120 or 24 V AC power supply. Options include a reclaim system, Teflon nozzles, fittings and valves, and special process cover configurations. The rinsers are available in a variety of sizes.

How Modutek’s DR Series Rinsers Improve Silicon Etching Results

Semiconductor manufacturing makes use of ever smaller microstructures and circuit connections. During wet etching of the silicon wafers, even a tiny particle can block a circuit path or deform microstructure design. Modutek’s rinsers are designed and constructed to avoid particle contamination.

The contoured vessel and machined trap door avoid entrapment of particles in corners or in cracks around seals and gaskets. The nitrogen bubbler helps dislodge any particles remaining on the surfaces of the silicon wafers. The 360 degree overflow weir gets rid of contaminants in the surface water quickly and the polypropylene material avoids the addition of metallic particles from fittings.

Modutek’s DR Series Quick Dump Rinsers are state-of-the-art process rinsing modules that work quickly and rinse completely. Used together with wet bench stations from Modutek’s extensive line of silicon wet etching equipment they can deliver exceptional performance for semiconductor manufacturing facilities and research labs. Contact Modutek for a free consultation on selecting the best equipment that will meet your manufacturing requirements.

Improvements to the Silicon Wet Etching Process

Posted on by

Improvements to the Silicon Wet Etching ProcessAs a result of improvements to equipment design and materials,  silicon wet etching process controls have improved to produce higher wafer yields with reduced defects. Modutek provides silicon wet etching equipment engineered to incorporate such improvements that are designed for reliability, safety, and low cost of ownership. The wet etching products from Modutek include features that offer specific advantages and deliver improved results. Process engineers and fabrication facility managers can order customized equipment to meet their needs and to ensure they receive the process improvements they expect.

Modutek’s QFa Series High-Temperature Recirculating Quartz Baths and the Qa Series Constant Temperature Quartz Baths are designed to set the quality standard in quartz baths. Used for etching, stripping, and heating, the baths feature fast, even heating to improve process yield and minimize damage from runaway temperatures. The high-quality internally flame-polished virgin fused quartz process vessels reduce downtime and increase reliability due to longer vessel life.

Although Modutek’s Teflon tanks come in standard carrier sizes, the company will build custom sizes to match any requirement. Tank configurations are Temperature Controlled Recirculating Baths, Temperature Controlled Static Baths and Teflon Ambient Baths. Inline heating or immersion heating are available. Modutek can help design the optimal configuration for both new as well as existing systems you may already have.

Modutek’s silicon wet etching baths deliver excellent process control while retaining flexibility in installation and operation. The control system monitors the temperature of the bath to determine when adding de-ionized water is required to maintain the acid-to-water ratio. As water is lost to evaporation, the boiling point of the bath increases and the control system adds small amounts of water to the boiling liquid, ensuring that the water mixes in immediately. This method tightly controls the boiling of the chemicals and avoids “bumping.” The availability of remote metering means that the product is easy to install and Modutek can help find the best solution for any process station.

Modutek’s line of Quick Dump Rinsers can increase process efficiency by reducing rinse times and DI water consumption. The Rinsers feature state-of-the-art engineering to eliminate particle entrapment and minimize rinsing times. Dual overhead spray manifolds, a contoured vessel design and a large machined dump door ensure efficient and rapid operation.

For facilities that could benefit from using KOH etching, Modutek offers customized solutions manufactured according to customer specifications. KOH etching is a repeatable process that delivers fast etching at a low cost. Modutek’s solutions use the company’s Teflon tanks with advanced welding techniques and all-PFA material. The products can be designed to particular specifications or to be compatible with your existing wet bench equipment. Once the wet etching process is established, continual adjustments are not necessary. Modutek can integrate the new products into an existing line to deliver process improvements and increased efficiency.

Making use of improved designs or higher-quality materials can generate substantial benefits from reduced costs and better throughput. The increased ability to manufacture customized products that are optimized for a particular application can further improve silicon wet etching results. For any questions about silicon wet etching products or for help selecting the right manufacturing equipment for your requirements, call Modutek at 866-803-1533.

Modutek’s DR Series Quick Dump Rinser

Posted on by

Modutek Quick Drump Rinser DR Series

Modutek’s DR Series Quick Dump Rinser

Throughout wafer manufacturing, few steps are as critical as the D.I. (deionized water) rinse cycle. In most cases, your product is exposed to more D.I. water than any other process fluid. For this reason, a truly effective rinsing system can contribute dramatically to the reduction of particles and defect densities. A considerable amount of time has been given to help you make this transaction into our DR series quick dump rinser easy and affordable. Whether it’s upgrading your existing rinsing line or installing new wet process station we have the plan that will work best for you.

Our overall DR series Quick Dump Rinser is designed with two major features. One: Easy installation into new or used equipment and two: Low DI water consumption due to our rinse features.

Modutek's Quick Dump Rinser during the spray cycleSuperior and consistent rinsing is achieved by (1) strategically located D.I water spray nozzles, (2) bottom filling (3) N2 agitation and (4) bottom fill that creates a vortex agitation in the rinse tank (optional).

The interior volume of the DR Series Quick Dump Rinser was reduced to minimum size relative to the wafer cassette. This, along with a 360˚ overflow weir and rapid dump time ensures that all large and small contaminants are quickly removed from the surface of the wafer and surrounding areas, thereby preventing recontamination of the wafer.

Modutek C15sa Rinser Controller is used in conjunction with the Quick Dump RinserModutek’s C15sa Rinser Controller is specifically designed for use with the DR Series Quick Dump Rinser wafer rinse system and provides a high degree of process flexibility. The user has the ability to program dump cycle, fill cycles, start cascade and spray delay. In addition, our C15sa controller has the ability to be programmed for resistivity and incorporates an access code which prevents tampering with the program.

In order to rinse to resistivity, the DR Series is used in conjunction with the Modutek Resistivity Monitor RM30a (optional feature). The RM30a has the ability to monitor resistivity and temperature inside the DR series rinser as well as incoming water into the wet bench. Once resistivity setting is reached inside the Quick Dump Rinser the rinse cycle discontinues at the next full level. This results in a process specific rinse, ensuring that a minimal amount of DI water is used.

Modutek Quick Dump Rinser during full rinse cycleIn addition to all of these features Modutek’s Quick Dump Rinser is designed for new or used wet bench installations. With this design you can easily upgrade your old rinser and not incur the cost of a new wet bench. The water savings and the increased throughput will help cover the cost of the overall upgrade. If you would like to learn more about Modutek’s Quick Dump Rinser and how it can improve your wafer manufacturing process, call 866-803-1533 or email Sales@Modutek.com.