Glass Wafer: Quartz, Silica, Borosilicate
Our glass wafers are designed for high precision and performance. The wafers are used in multiple applications, including semiconductor fabrication, medical devices, MEMS, microfluidics, or energy harvesting.
What is a Glass Wafer?
A glass wafer is a thin, flat disc made from special glass high purity materials. These materials include fused silica, quartz, borosilicate, and alumino silicate. Glass wafers are different from silicon wafers. Silicon wafers can conduct electricity, but glass wafers do not. Glass wafers are also clear, which makes them ideal for multiple applications in microfabrication and photonics.
Glass wafers are typically manufactured with high surface quality (e.g. 20/10 to 80/50 scratch/dig), tight thickness tolerances, and excellent flatness. They come in sizes from 2 inches to 12 inches (50 mm to 300 mm). Glass wafers can also be customised with coatings, laser markings, or rounded edges for safe handling.
Key Features of Glass Wafers
- Glass Wafer Types: Fused Quartz & Silica, Borosilicate, Alumino Silicate
- Fused Quartz wafers, JGS2 and single crystal Quartz Wafers
- Available in 2″ to 200mm Diameters or Rectangular Sizes
- Double Side Polished, Thickness ≥200 µm
- Custom Coatings, Processing and Dicing
- Supply and Shipment Worldwide from Stock
Buy Glass Wafers online
We maintain a large inventory of different Glass wafer types for rapid dispatch. Browse our “Online Semiconductor Wafer Store” to view current stock and technical specifications.
- Extensive Inventory: A wide selection wafer sizes & thicknesses
- Fast Global Shipping: Rapid dispatch from our UK warehouse
- Custom Processing: Oxide and nitride deposition, wafer thinning and more
- Expert Support: Technical advice to help you select the right wafer
- No Minimum Order: Perfect for both R&D and production environments
- Quality Assurance: All wafers undergo rigorous inspection processes
Delivering high purity Glass Wafers
Inseto provides an extensive range of glass wafer sizes and materials. These include fused silica wafers, borosilicate glass, and alumino silicate glass wafers. They come in a wide range of sizes from 50mm to 200 mm in diameter, plus a variety of rectangular shapes.
The optical transmission and reflection characteristics of the substrates supplied can be provided so that you understand the properties of the materials we deliver and so that they can be tailored to the wavelengths required by your application.
Fused Silica Wafers
Fused silica wafers are renowned for their exceptional optical clarity and low thermal expansion. Grades such as JGS1 and JGS2 offer high UV transmission, making them ideal for photonics, UV lithography, and precision optics. They are also chemically inert and thermally stable. This supports their use in demanding environments like semiconductor processing and MEMS fabrication. JGS3, while slightly lower in purity, is still suitable for general optical applications and cost-sensitive research.
Fused Quartz Wafers
Fused quartz wafers share many properties with fused silica but differ slightly in impurity levels and manufacturing processes. They are highly resistant to thermal shock and chemical corrosion, making them perfect for high-temperature applications. These include furnace windows, diffusion processes, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) systems. Their durability and transparency also make them ideal for use in photonics and laser systems.
Borosilicate Wafers
Borosilicate wafers are commonly used in microfluidics, sensor packaging, and microscopy and are made from borosilicate glass. Borofloat and D263 are types of borosilicate wafers. They are known for low thermal expansion, high chemical resistance, and clear optics. BK7 is preferred for its better light transmission in the visible range. These wafers are often used in bonding applications and as substrates for thin-film coatings.
Alumino Silicate Wafers
Alumino silicate glass wafers offer high mechanical strength and thermal stability, making them ideal for applications in display technologies, laser optics, and precision bonding. Their resistance to scratching and impact also makes them suitable for protective layers in harsh environments. These wafers are increasingly used in advanced packaging and optoelectronic devices.
Got a Question About Glass Wafers?
Curious about semiconductor materials and how to choose the right glass wafer? Explore our “Semiconductor Wafer Selection Guide” for expert insights. You’ll also find a wealth of information in our free “Knowledge Base“, covering semiconductor processes, technologies, and more.
Choosing the right Glass wafer can be complex, especially if you’re unsure about specifications or material types. That’s why Inseto offers expert guidance to help you make the best choice for your application.
Whether you’re developing a new product or refining an existing process, Inseto’s team of experts is here to help. From selecting the right semiconductor wafer to onsite training, we provide technical guidance, documentation, and support for your production needs.
Applications for Glass Wafers
Key Applications
Glass wafers are used in semiconductor and microtechnology industries where they are beneficial for several reasons. Key applications include:
- Electrical Insulation: Glass is a natural dielectric, making it ideal for isolating components in MEMS and IC packaging.
- Optical Transparency: Enables use in photonic devices, optical sensors, and microfluidic chips.
- Thermal Stability: Materials like fused quartz and silica offer low thermal expansion and high resistance to thermal shock.
- Chemical Resistance: Borosilicate and fused silica resist acids and solvents, supporting harsh process environments.
- Mechanical Strength: Alumino silicate glass offers good thermal shock resistance and high durability for bonding and dicing processes.
Glass Wafer Product Range
Wafer Specifications
The properties of our high quality glass wafers make them suitable for both temporary carriers and permanent substrates in semiconductor manufacturing.
Our in house expertise is available for you to use to define the process and materials that you need; let us know what you are working on and we are available to help you specify the correct materials.
- Diameters: 2″ (50.8 mm), 3″ (76.2 mm), 100, 125, 150 and 200 mm
- Also available in: Square / rectangular formats
- Materials: Borofloat 33, Fused Silica and Quartz, JGS2, Single Xtal Quartz
- Other materials include: BK7, Eagle XG, Soda Lime and B270
- Can be supplied with: rounded edges for safe secure handling
- Thickness: ≥200 µm
- Surface Finish: Single or Double Side Polished
- Surface Quality (S/D): From 20/10 to 80/50 MIL standard
- Surface Roughness: Ra 6-12 Å
- Pre-cleaned wafers available
- No minimum order quantities
- Wafer dicing available to any die size
Knowledge Base Articles
Related Products
Further Information
Wiki – Fused Quartz Description
Glass Wafer Applications
MEMS and Mcrofluidics, Photonics and Optical Devices, RF and High Frequency Substrates, Advanced Packaging, TGV Interposers, Semiconductor Carrier Wafers, Displays and Optoelectronics, Biomedical Devices
Industry Segments
Semiconductor and Advanced Packaging, Consumer Electronics, Photonics and Optical Communications, RF and Wireless Infrastructure, Automotive and Mobility, Medical and Life Sciences
Region
You can buy Glass Wafers directly from Inseto with fast delivery available worldwide.
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