Encapsulants and Underfills

Encapsulants and Underfills for Semiconductor packaging & Optical grade LED encapsulation

Epoxies, silicones or hybrid technologies

Encapsulants & Underfills

High purity liquid epoxy self-leveling encapsulants are designed to work together as dam and fill materials for bare chip encapsulation, protecting gold wire bonds and silicon die from mechanical damage and corrosion. Although these materials are typically used together in dam and fill applications, the low viscosity "fill" materials can be used alone in devices that contain a cavity. Encapsulants can meet stringent JEDEC level testing requirements and are compatible with the high temperature processing demanded for lead-free assembly.
Chip on Board Liquid Encapsulants cure to form void-free globs when exposed to heat, with formulations for low CTE, minimizing stress on wire bonds during thermal cycling. These encapsulants are easy-to-dispense, minimize induced stresses, provide improved temperature cycling performance, and offer excellent chemical resistance.

Underfills offer easy reworkability as well as excellent vibration and impact resistance. These underfills offer many processing advantages such as fast flow, fast cure, and long pot life. Our new Cornerbond technology fits easily into an SMT process flow and eliminates a separate underfill dispense and cure process, saving time and money.
Flip chip underfills are used in devices such as FC CSPs and FC BGAs for ASICs, chipsets, graphics chips, digital processors, and microprocessors. These fast flow materials permeate easily under large die. Offering excellent adhesion when used with a variety of no-clean fluxes, these underfills will not crack after thermal shock or thermal cycling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Encapsulants and Underfills

What is the main difference between liquid encapsulants and molding compounds?

Liquid encapsulants and Epoxy molding compounds are generally two sides of the same coin. They are a thermosetting mixture of polymeric resin, a hardener and some fillers that come in both liquid and solid (pellets/powder) forms.

  • Liquid encapsulants are dispensable materials that are preferred for flexible, lab-scale projects that need constant changes and alignments. They are using an easy and cheap dispensing system that is ideal for flexible projects with lower throughput. Research, development, and advanced packaging are definitely favoring this liquid encapsulation that facilitates innovation.
  • Epoxy molding compounds are, as the name implies, moldable materials. They are commonly used with transfer (and rarely compression) molding. Transfer molding is a fixed, controlled, and expensive process. You need very specific mold designs and sophisticated equipment that can only be used for a single package. This makes this process completely rigid and requires a very large initial investment and a definite package design.

What would be the effect on the product's performance after the guaranteed shelf-life?

Effects of using 1-part epoxy after guaranteed shelf-life:

  • Viscosity and Flowability Changes : Viscosity can change over time due to premature crosslinking even while stored. Crosslinking occurs when the polymer chains within the epoxy network form strong chemical bonds, resulting in a more rigid structure. As a result, its viscosity could increase beyond the optimal range. High viscosity can lead to difficulties during application, affecting the encapsulation process. Furthermore, a higher viscosity epoxy may not flow as easily into intricate spaces or around components, potentially compromising the encapsulation quality.
  • Decrease in bonding performance: After the guaranteed shelf-life, the bonding performance of an epoxy may decline. Factors contributing to this include: (1) Incomplete Curing: Premature crosslinking can lead to incomplete curing. The epoxy may not achieve its full strength, impacting the bond’s durability. (2) Reduced Adhesion: Aging epoxy may lose its ability to adhere well to surfaces. This can result in poor bonding between the encapsulant and the components. (3) Chemical Changes: Over time, the epoxy’s chemical composition can alter due to exposure to environmental factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, UV light). These changes may affect its compatibility with different materials. (4) Weakened Mechanical Properties: Aging epoxy may become more brittle or less flexible, affecting its ability to withstand mechanical stress or thermal cycling.

Are there any SVHC free encapsulants?

There are SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) free encapsulants available. For instance, Loctite Eccobond 7010C DAM is an SVHC free dam encapsulant with high purity, designed for glob top applications and the encapsulation of bare wire bonded semiconductors. It operates at temperatures ranging from -40 to 150ºC and has good crack, chemical, and thermal resistance, along with low thermal expansion.
Another product, Loctite Eccobond 7010C FILL, is an SVHC free fill encapsulant suitable for high operating temperatures and is designed for use as a potting or encapsulation resin protection for stress-sensitive electronic components. It is formulated with a low thermal expansion and high Tg, making it ideally suited to survive severe thermal shock conditions with a high resistance to micro cracking. These products are examples of SVHC free encapsulants that are also REACH compliant, ensuring they meet strict European Union standards for chemical safety.

These products are examples of SVHC free encapsulants that are also REACH compliant, ensuring they meet strict European Union standards for chemical safety.

How can we maintain the optimal performance of the encapsulant?

To maintain optimal performance:

  • Follow Shelf-Life Guidelines: Always adhere to the recommended shelf-life provided by the manufacturer. Using epoxy beyond this period increases the risk of performance issues.
  • Proper Storage: Store epoxy encapsulants in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Avoid extreme temperatures or humidity.
  • Test Fresh Batches: Before critical applications, test a fresh batch of epoxy to ensure it meets the desired properties (viscosity, curing time, adhesion strength).
  • Consider Alternative Materials: If an epoxy has expired, consider using a new batch or exploring alternative encapsulant materials.

What’s the recommended dispensing process to avoid the voids?

Liquid encapsulants should be applied in a controlled and consistent manner. Abrupt pouring should be avoided. It is recommended to use dispensing equipment to control material flow and allow air to escape as the material fills the package. Mold design is also a factor along with the dispense pattern being used and the dispense volume consistency.

What are the main properties to be considered when choosing the right encapsulant or underfill?

When selecting the right encapsulant or underfill for a specific application, Viscosity, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, Cure Temperature, and insulating properties are some of the properties that should be considered.


Learn More

What is REACH?

REACH is the acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.

  • European union regulation that started in 2007 and their goal is to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. 
  • Encapsulants fall under the REACH regulations. That’s why manufacturers, importers and end users need to ensure that their products and the products that they are using are REACH compliant.

REACH places the burden of proof on companies.

  • Companies must identify and manage the risks linked to the substances they manufacture and market in the European Union
  • Companies must demonstrate to European Chemical Agency (ECHA) how the substance can be safely used, and they must communicate the risk management measures to the users
  • If the risks cannot be managed, authorities can restrict the use of substances in different ways
  • In the long run, the most hazardous substances should be substituted with less dangerous ones

REACH Services provided by CAPLINQ

  • REACH Only Representative provides a legal entity in the European Union (EU) for the "chemical import       responsibility" of substances into Europe.
  • ORO, Brexit, Consulting, Registering and Testing

 

What does SVHC mean?

Substances fulfilling one or more of the criteria defined in Article 57 of the EU REACH regulation can be identified as “Substances of Very High Concern" (SVHC) and put on the “Candidate List for Authorization" which is also called "REACH SVHC list“

  • Substances meeting the criteria for classification as Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic (CMR) cat 1 or 2,
  • Persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) substances,
  • Very persistent and very bio-accumulative (vPvB) substances,
  • Substances for which there is evidence for similar concern, such as endocrine disruptors

Common Substances of Very High Concern.

  • Many Semiconductor Grade encapsulants contain an Anhydride based resin system. 
  • Some of these Anhydrides are SVHC listed, so they may be banned for use in Europe in future
  • All materials supplied by Henkel comply with REACH and SVHC regulations

svhc decription in msds

 

How does SVHC affect you?

svhc steps until the banning of a substance

 

LOCTITE ECCOBOND 7010C DAM & FIL are Hybrid encapsulants for stress sensitive electronic components which require SVHC free and CMR free materials. They are 80% silica filled products with 120um filler size that offer High Tg  and low CTE. 

Typically used in the Defence and aerospace markets, automotive applications, power electronics and any stress sensitive field. Successful applications include wirebond and component protection on multilayered PCB boards applications such as On-Off switch of generic energy flow in airplanes.  

 

  • Dam & Fill encapsulation for stress sensitive electronic components

  • Low viscosity ensures good flow around wire bonds

  • First CMR & SVHC free, “REACH compliant” Dam & Fill encapsulant 

  • Qualified in aerospace applications

  • Low moisture uptake (85°C/85%RH)

  • High Tg, low CTE for low stress 

  • High reliability performance (-40/+150°C thermal shock)

  • Meets NASA outgassing test (ASTM E595-15)

  • Contains fluorescent dye to aid visual inspection


 

 

SVHC Free Encapsulants

Dam and Fill

  FP 4451TD DAM 7010C FP 4450HF FP 4470 FP 4651 FP 4802 FIL 7010C 
Type Dam Fill
Silica filler (%) 73 80 73 75 82 72 80
Viscosity (cP) 300,000 92,500 32,000 42,000 100,000 80,000 25,000
CTE ?1 (ppm/°C) 21 16 21 18 11 20 16
Tg (°C) 150 140 164 148 150 50 140
Cure Time (min) 30 + 90 60 + 60 30 + 90 30 + 90 150 + 150 30 + 90 60 + 60
Cure Temperature 125 + 165 100 + 150 125 + 165 125 + 165 110 + 150 125 + 165 100 + 150

 

Glob Top

  EO 1016  EO 1072 EO 7021 FP 4460 FP 50300HT FP 50400-1 FP4323 EN 3838T 8387BM
Type Refrigerated Frozen
Viscosity (cP) 62,000 80,000 17,000 300,000 130,000 40,000 100,000 6,700 14,000
CTE ?1 (ppm/°C) 46 43 67 20 20 20 28 57 88
Tg (°C) 126 135 125 173 140 140 174 2 122
TC (W/mK) ~0.4 ~0.5 ~0.5 - 0.63 0.63 0.63 0.22 -
Cure Time (min) 20 5 60 180 120 120 240 8 60
Cure Temp(°C) 150 140 - 150 120 150 150 150 150 130 100

 

SVHC Free Underfills

LOCTITE ECCOBOND UF 1173

LOCTITE® ECCOBOND UF 1173 material has been formulated without any reportable REACH SVHCs (current to June 2018) and the product is not CMR classified.