Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing equipment is used for a wide range of processes starting with the growth of silicon ingots and ending with the assembly and testing of finished devices. Equipment manufacturers specify high performance polymers to ensure that their machinery will operate reliably with maximum throughput and minimal yield loss. The plastic sheet, rod, and tube materials used for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing are grouped by application. SEMICONDUCTOR AND ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT APPLICATIONS Wet Benches and Cleanrooms FM 4910 listed PP, PVC, CPVC, and fluoropolymers are ideal materials for semiconductor processing wet benches and cabinets. Wafer Handling Advanced polymers have the strength, dimensional stability, wear resistance, and ESD properties required for wafer handling. CMP (Chemical Mechanical Planarization) PPS and PEEK have the chemical resistance and abrasion resistance required for long wear life in abrasive CMP slurries. ESD Materials for Static Electricity Control ESD plastics have surface resistivity ranges that minimize the buildup and discharge of static electricity, which can damage IC chips. Test Sockets PEEK, Torlon® PAI, and Dupont™ Vespel® have the strength, wear resistance, and dimensional stability required for semiconductor test sockets. PCB Solder Pallets and Assembly Fixtures Durostone® composites have the strength, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, and ESD properties for wave solder pallet applications. Fabrication and Machining Services Take advantage of our plastic fabrication and machining services to save time and money on plastic parts. Utilizing in-house capabilities and partnering with fabrication specialists we provide customers with reliable fabrication solutions, machined parts and cut-to-size materials for any application. Quote your project Which plastic materials are right for your semiconductor manufacturing equipment application? Contact us today. Semiconductor manufacturing requires plastic materials with high purity, chemical resistance, ESD properties, and wear resistance for application success. Whatever you need, our plastics experts are here for you—ready to answer your technical questions and discuss materials. Call 1-800-553-0335 | Ask a Plastics Expert | Explore Our Materials Frequently Asked Questions Does Curbell supply plastic materials that can help to prevent IC chip damage from electrostatic discharge during handling? Curbell supplies a wide range of plastics with surface resistivities in the conductive, static dissipative, and antistatic ranges. These materials are often used in jigs, fixtures, trays, and other wafer contacting equipment to reduce the chance of damage from electrostatic discharge. Which plastics will help to maintain high purity during wafer processing? Curbell supplies materials with low leaching including PEEK and fluoropolymers such as PVDF (Kynar®), FEP, and PFA. Additionally, Curbell supplies materials such as DuPont™ Vespel® and PVDF (Kynar®) that have low particulate generation. Both of these characteristics can help to maintain purity during wafer processing. Which plastics have the best resistance to the chemicals used in semiconductor processing? PEEK, PVDF (Kynar®), ECTFE (Halar®), ETFE (Tefzel®), FEP, PTFE, and PFA all have broad chemical resistance and they are frequently used for wafer processing applications. Case Studies Semiconductor Testing Machinery Manufacturer Had Quality Rejections of Wafer Test Sockets TECAPEEK® CMF ceramic filled PEEK replaced failing material and solved quality issue. Consistent Supply of Vespel® SP-1 Plaque Needed for Semiconductor Soldering Fixtures Curbell established special inventory program eliminating costly production delays.