As the demand for smaller, faster, and more powerful electronic devices continues to rise, semiconductor manufacturers are increasingly turning to high performance polymers to meet their stringent requirements. Among the many applications, high performance polymers are widely used for wafer processing, chemical handling, and cleanroom applications.

High performance polymers like PEEK and PTFE offer several advantages over traditional materials such as metals and ceramics in the semiconductor manufacturing process.

They are lightweight, have excellent chemical resistance, and can operate at high temperatures without degrading. These materials can also be machined to very tight tolerances, enabling the production of complex parts with minimal waste.

According to a market research report by Grand View Research, the global high-performance polymers market size was valued at USD 83.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.6% from 2021 to 2028.

With the growing demand for consumer electronics and the increasing use of semiconductors in automobiles, healthcare, and aerospace, the demand for high performance polymers is projected to increase significantly in the coming years.

Examples of high performance polymers used in semiconductor manufacturing include:

• PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
• Ultem (Polyetherimide)
• PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
• FEP (Fluorinated ethylene propylene)
• PEI (Polyetherimide)

The use of high performance polymers allows semiconductor manufacturers to operate at higher temperatures and in more aggressive chemical environments, thus increasing production efficiency and reducing costs.

As the industry continues to evolve and innovate, it is likely that the use of high performance polymers will become even more prevalent in semiconductor manufacturing.