Eutectic bonding, also called eutectic soldering, is where the combination of two or more metals allow direct transformation from solid to liquid state or vice versa at specific temperature without passing two-phase equilibrium. The eutectic temperature is much lower than the melting temperature of the materials that are involved in the bonding process. Eutectic bonding is ideal for high-vacuum applications as this process has very low outgassing.
Eutectic wafer bonding is widely used in the MEMS industry for hermetic sealing, pressure or vacuum encapsulation as it allows highly reliable wafer-level processing for devices with the smallest form factors. The most common metals/alloys that are used in eutectic bonding are Al-Ge, Au-Sn and Au-In. However, there are many other material combinations available that can produce a eutectic bonding system. Additionally, the ability of silicon to alloy with metals like Au can also be the basis for eutectic bonding. All eutectic bonds must go through a liquid phase and thus are less sensitive to surface flatness irregularities, scratches and particles, thereby facilitating high volume manufacturing. Bonding temperature, time and pressure are the most important parameters for eutectic bonding where high bond strength can be achieved with low processing temperature and minimum resultant stress. Eutectic bonding can additionally enable hermetic sealing and electrical interconnections in a single process. Compared to other intermediate layers, such as adhesives or glass-frit, eutectic bonding also promotes better out-gassing and hermeticity.
Visit our booth #B1213 at SEMICON EUROPA 2023 & listen to our talk "Optimization of Advanced Packaging Process: Concept of Maskless Dual–Layer Lithographic Patterning" held by Dr. Varga Ksenija on November 15th, 17:05 at the Advanced Packaging Conference!
Listen to our talk "State-Of-The-Art Wafer Bonding for HBM and Heterogenous D2W 3D Integration" held by Dr. Glinsner Thomas on October 26th, 09:50 in the Grand Ballroom A!