What is the future of bonding wire? Will copper entirely replace gold?
There is a specific focus on the role of gold in bonding wire. With the rising price of gold, many companies are looking to switch to copper. The publication looks at the advantages and difficulties with using copper wire advance packaging, explaining why copper cannot replace gold in many applications as well as the significant benefits of gold to safety critical applications. This article follows on from a survey conducted by SEMI (the global industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries) in January this year, which highlighted the concerns that the semi-conductor industry has regarding the use of copper wire within their products. Dr Holliday continued: “The rapid nature of development in electronics means that it is almost impossible to predict the future usage of gold. Both price and the types of consumer electronics that emerge in the next decade will influence the trajectory of gold in the electronics ma
