Borofloat 33 glass wafers represent state-of-the-art precision glass substrates engineered for high-performance applications across multiple industries including micro-optics, sensor technology, microlithography, semiconductor fabrication, photonics, and medical device manufacturing. These substrates exhibit exceptional optical clarity, thermal stability, and mechanical integrity while maintaining stringent dimensional tolerances.
The wafers demonstrate superior optical properties with transmission characteristics optimized for precision applications. Their borosilicate composition provides excellent thermal shock resistance and chemical inertness, making them suitable for harsh processing environments. Manufacturing precision ensures total thickness variation (TTV) below 5 micrometers and surface roughness specifications of ≤1 nanometer, meeting the most demanding flatness requirements for photolithographic and optical applications.
Key Technical Specifications
Industrial Applications
These substrates serve critical roles in MEMS fabrication, optical component manufacturing, semiconductor process tooling, and advanced photonic device development. Their chemical resistance and thermal stability make them ideal for electrochemical applications and high-temperature processing environments.
influence
Think of Borofloat 33 glass wafers as the “premium blank canvases” of the high-tech world. These aren’t your everyday glass sheets – they’re ultra-precise, mirror-smooth discs that engineers use to build some seriously advanced stuff.
These wafers are basically glass perfection. They’re so flat you could use them as a reference for what “flat” actually means. The surface is smoother than a baby’s skin
(literally down to the nanometer level), and they’re tough enough to handle extreme temperatures without cracking or warping.
Where You’ll Find Them
You know those tiny sensors in your smartphone? The precise optical components in high-end cameras? Advanced medical diagnostic chips? There’s a good chance they started life on one of these glass wafers. Scientists and engineers use them to build everything from microscopic machines (MEMS devices) to the optical components that make lasers work properly.
The Bottom Line
If you need to build something that requires absolute precision – where even a microscopic bump or scratch would ruin everything – these are your go-to glass wafers. They’re the difference between “good enough” and “aerospace-grade perfect.
Size & Specification Quick Reference
Available in sizes from 2 inches (50.8mm) up to 12 inches (300mm) in diameter, with thicknesses ranging from 100 to 500+ micrometers. All wafers maintain professional-grade flatness and surface quality standards, available in both single-side and double-side polished configurations.
- TTV (Total Thickness Variation) → How much the thickness varies across the wafer
- Surface Roughness ≤1nm → Smoother than you can possibly imagine
- Chemical Inertness → Won’t react with chemicals or corrode
- Thermal Shock Resistance → Won’t crack when temperature changes rapidly
- SSP/DSP → Single Side Polished or Double Side Polished (mirror finish on one or both sides)
Extended Technical Analysis
Professional Perspective: Manufacturing Excellence
- Borofloat 33 substrates undergo rigorous quality control protocols utilizing advanced metrology systems for dimensional verification. The manufacturing process incorporates precision float glass technology with controlled annealing cycles to minimize internal stress distributions. Edge finishing procedures comply with SEMI standards, ensuring compatibility with automated handling systems in cleanroom environments.
- The company keeps detailed records of every wafer they make, so if there’s ever a problem, they can trace it back to exactly when and how it was made. It’s like having a birth certificate and complete medical history for each piece of glass.