Silicon carbide (SiC) wafers are used in many demanding applications, including:
- Power electronics
- Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- Power inverters
- High-temperature applications
As demand for SiC products grow, so are the price determinants of the wafers sought to be understood by businesses wishing to integrate them into their products.
This guide looks into the major factors determining the pricing of SiC wafers to inform your business decision when you purchase SiC wafers.
- Wafer size/ thickness
The size of a SiC wafer and how thick it is, is one of the most highly determinative factors on it’s price. Commonly sold in 4- and 6-inch wafer diameters, larger sizes such as 8-inch and larger are beginning to arrive on the market – albeit at a premium – due to the difficulties in producing them and the much greater costs of primary materials.
Wafer thickness is also important, with thicker wafers – used often in high-power devices – costing more to produce due to the greater raw materials content and the subsequent processing needed.
2.Crystal quality
The quality of the silicon carbide crystal in question is a yet greater factor determining the cost of a given SiC wafer. Crystals ofwith more defects present in a given area, and a not so good lattice structure – tend to do better as far as electronic applications go, with such given improvement coming to a degree at a cost – improved quality being attained through growths which are more complex such as sublimation growth, CVD, etc..
Dislocations versus micropipes in pricing SiC. Defect free wafers are of premium always it appears. Having less of those various defect types in the way of cracks and impurity within the lattice makes for heavier weight but lower pricing of the wafer ultimately – at least for part of that green conscience so intrinsic ourselves today. With the dislocated less of such SiC wafers the sell are more for the electrical properties as such therefore, and for the higher yield along through the “silicon” supply chain. It is easier profit yielding pricing for the manufacturers and ultimately for the purchaser. - Doping and Material Purity
Dope with other elements for electrical properties. These can sometimes be done with the more expensive elements.
Higher levels of purity mean pricing premia – separate from the cost of the pure substrate on an individual basis.Pricing of wafers reflect the amount of impurity on one’s own person!Production Yield
The yield in SiC wafer production for dies presumably is lower than in most other normal open market industries, and that contributes to the higher prices.
Manufacturing Process
Nevertheless, the SiC wafer is more complicated, and therefore more expensive, to manufacture than the more “classical” silicon wafer. SiC crystals are harder, and more difficult to grow, and both the slicing and polishing processes require special facilities and equipment. Obviously, the original size of the crystal from which the requisite wafer can be cut is larger, but that is easily determined in the case of silicon. There are various recognized classic processes of producing different grades of silicon, and the finer materials, of course, command a premium price and lead time.
Market Demand and Availability
Naturally enough, of course, the SiC wafer has a market, and a burgeoning market too. Electric vehicles, renewable energy, power electronics and motor control push the demand up as does price.
Other factors, such as transportation and established reliability (or otherwise) in the event of a supply chain interruption also enter into the pricing picture. Natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes are events, of course, upon which we yearly levy disaster taxes, but we can hardly lay that blame at the feet of the person wanting to charge a premium for a wafer of desired diameter. Supply and demand will turn the “wheels of commerce” and the price, down.
Supplier and Order Volume
Then, who you are going to buy from, and in what volume is the price proved to you? Or maybe not, as the case may be. Volume, and who you buy from both affect price. Naturally, a $500.00 order from supplier A will NOT go real far toward squeezing down the price of a $500,000 order from the same supplier; However, the ability (certainly even the inclination) of supplier A to furnish discount on a $50,000. or 500.00 order favors repeating at any and all rates.Far more important that we may realize, your supplier is the key.
Post-Processing and Customization
There may be advantages and disadvantages, purchasing wafers as opposed to in-die for as-fabricated. Irrespective of the facts, post-process steps to complete the wafer such as polishing, etching, or coating may or may not be critical to you. Naturally, speaking of critical, yes, wafer customization for specific and demanding conditions such as high power or high temperature applications will add a sweetener to the cost of material. Thanks to the growing and equal market of demand, somehow buyers of dies may wish to draw a leaf from the siC wafer book.
Conclusion
Between the size of wafer, quality of crystal, and any and all other objective and subjective ways we agree between us to sweeten the pot to make a buck, siC wafer price is dependent on many factors which any user should consider. Forewarned is forearmed, as the old saw has it, and by grasping the factors, we not only can do just right by our dollars, and obtain the best price to, also.
Be wise making your selection; buy good quality and factor in mind we have laid out, and you can hardly go wrong. Good hunting!
