The 2010 market for silicon carbide (SiC) fabricated parts for semiconductor applications totaled $200M, sharply up 38% over the 2009 low, according to a new report from Techcet Group, Silicon Carbide As Used in the Semiconductor Industry 2011, A Techcet Group Critical Materials Report. This is still 5% shy of the 2008 peak, but the 2011 outlook is for continuing growth of 12% or more to between $225M and $240M, according to Techcet’s latest forecast.
Many OEMs and fab users allowed their SiC parts inventory to run low during the recession, and are now scrambling to restock. Field experience with SiC has also matured to the point where the longer product life and superior performance over quartz for 300mm chip manufacturing have been adequately demonstrated, creating new market demand. While there is no shortage of SiC material overall, some CVD SiC suppliers have pushed lead times out to six months and are working to double their capacity. Roughly 60% of the SiC demand is for wafer carriers, boats and related fabware, with the remainder going to OEM components.
In addition to market analysis, technical trends and critical supply chain issues, the report includes profiles and updates for eight of the leading SiC parts suppliers to the global semiconductor industry.