What Do You Know About the Ultimate Chip Test?

Risk Mitigation to Improve Chip Quality

Chip test fixtures including wafer test carriers and packaged chip test fixtures are essential testing tools. They fix test samples and simulate real operating environments to carry out standardized tests for function inspection, power calibration, lifespan and performance measurement, and are widely adopted in electronics assembly, communication and automotive industries.

They mainly consist of sample clamping structures, interface components and control modules. Gold-plated shrapnels or probes are commonly used as contact materials to cut down contact resistance. Surface materials must comply with strict anti-static standards to ensure precise and safe testing. As chip processes keep scaling down to advanced nodes, chips run at lower operating voltages and become far more vulnerable to electrostatic discharge. This raises extremely rigorous requirements for the cleanliness and stability of testing environments.

A single electrostatic spark can break down costly chips completely.

Undetected hidden defects pose greater threats, triggering premature chip failure after delivery and causing severe quality accidents and brand reputation losses.

During testing, fixture materials contact grinding slurry, wafers and other media. Impure materials with substance precipitation or impurities will impair test accuracy and contaminate chips directly. At nanoscale, micron-sized contaminants act like huge boulders and become invisible triggers of yield fluctuations.

Therefore, test engineers set strict standards for fixture material selection and performance metrics. Selected materials must satisfy four core demands simultaneously: testing precision, stability, durability and cost efficiency, while adapting to unique requirements of diverse application scenarios.

Ideal fixture materials need steady anti-static capability, outstanding physical and chemical inertness, high purity, low outgassing and superior wear resistance. Choosing the right fixture material is equivalent to appointing a reliable guardian to protect invaluable chips and brand credibility.

Why PEEK Specialty Engineering Plastic Is Preferred for Chip Test Fixtures

Traditional metals and ordinary plastics cannot meet the combined requirements of anti-static protection, high purity, wear resistance, chemical resistance and dimensional stability. The semiconductor industry turns to a specialty engineering plastic, Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which satisfies the extreme material performance demands of advanced semiconductor manufacturing and testing.

Premium materials for high-end test carriers shall feature the following properties:

Joinature’s ESD-Safe PEEK Materials

Well aware of the vital role of chip testing, Joinature has devoted intensive R&D to launch a full series of dedicated ESD-safe Polyetheretherketone (ESD PEEK) products, building a solid defense line for semiconductor testing starting from raw materials. Our product development targets core demands with precise anti-static grading.

We supply multiple grades with surface resistivity ranging from 10⁶ to 10¹¹Ω, including ESD E01/P01, ESD E02/P02 and ESD J02, to match precise static dissipation speed requirements for various testing scenarios.

The above data are typical values summarized from Joinature’s internal lab tests and public material data sheets for reference only, not binding specifications.

Adopting special formulas and rigorous production control, our materials feature high heat deflection temperature and a much lower linear expansion coefficient than aluminum alloy and common engineering plastics. They maintain micron-level dimensional accuracy under high/low temperature testing or long-term service to eliminate testing errors caused by thermal expansion and contraction. With low precipitation and ultra-high purity, they avoid contamination, secure clean testing environments and reliable test results, perfectly fitting high-precision inspection for semiconductor chips and precision electronic components.

These materials inherit PEEK’s inherent high strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance, and feature excellent machinability and moldability, enabling customers to fabricate complex, ultra-precise test fixtures.

We offer extrusion-grade pellets (ESD E01/E02), compression molding powder (ESD P01/P02) and injection-molding dedicated ESD pellets (ESD J02), to meet diverse design and manufacturing demands of different customers.

ZYPEEK ESD-safe sheets withstand clamping force, plugging force and long-term mechanical stress of test fixtures without structural deformation or cracking. They are ideal for high-frequency, high/low-temperature testing environments with long service life and stable dimensions, further guaranteeing testing precision.

Customized production is available, and we can cooperate with precision parts manufacturers to fully match customers’ delivery requirements.

More Than Materials: We Deliver Full-Process Solutions

From preliminary technical communication and sample analysis, customized product development, strict inspection and verification to on-site technical guidance and fast delivery, Joinature strives to become a trusted partner in the semiconductor testing sector, adding an extra safety barrier for chip testing through material science.

Selecting a material means taking on a responsibility. At the final critical checkpoint before chips are assembled into end devices, Joinature’s ESD-safe PEEK materials protect the value of every test with outstanding comprehensive performance. Their superior electrostatic protection, excellent dimensional stability and high reliability effectively cut system costs and boost energy efficiency, while enabling compact design with greater multi-functionality and design freedom, laying a solid foundation for the outstanding performance of every chip and every flagship device.

A Thousand-Ton Scale PEEK Solution Provider

Dedicated to safeguarding core precision manufacturing links.

Want to learn more about Joinature’s PEEK & PAEK products and solutions, or apply for free samples? Get in touch with our professional team right away!