Reactive Bonding

Reactive material systems (RMS) are a new energetic material for wafer bonding application. They have a well-defined heterogeneous structure. While particle and foil-based RMS only have limited relevance for microelectronics, thin film layers show a great potential as energy source for chip and wafer boning. Reactive material thin films generate energy based on a self-propagating high temperature reaction. Further developments focus on the transfer of the reactive bonding process from component to wafer level. A homogeneous deposition of RMS is essential for the development of a bonding process on chip and wafer level. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) can be used for the deposition of various RMS. The deposition of reactive multilayers by PVD enables a homogeneous and uniform coating of chips and wafers with a large variety of material systems. Bonding based on RMS utilizes a self-propagating reaction to form a stable bond between two substrates.