RelMax, from Kulicke & Soffa Industries, is a 2N gold ball bonding wire developed in response to market demand for increased interconnect (IC) reliability, process robustness and reduced costs.
High temperature storage test indicate that RelMax provides leading first bond intermetallic stability. Additionally, it reportedly achieves softer, more concentric free-air balls (FABS) for use in low-k and sensitive die applications. It is said to achieve high mean-time-between-assist (MTBA) rates in first and second bonds, and exhibits improved second bond stitch pull values at lower bonding parameters.
These features allow for low-cost assembly approaches such as the use of smaller wire diameters and metal substrates even for fine pitch applications, while maintaining stable wire-bonding processes and ball-bond reliability. As a result, RelMax is also suited to ultra-fine pitch applications. Relmax is available in diameters ranging from 15 to 30µm. Kulicke & Soffa Industries, Inc. Fort Washington, PA,. www.kns.com