Do you know any particular dependencies of YMTC that doesn't exist in China? As far as I see China is doing quite well with the exception of lithographs as of 2022.
Chinese semiconductor industry
- Thread starter Hendrik_2000
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for example, Tungsten Etching machine. But I think maybe there is one being verified in YMTC.
we wouldn't know that and neither would he though, because he has no insight into YMTC's specific process.
From what I've heard, one problem is their dependence on KLA for 3D NAND dimensional metrology. 3D NAND poses specific problems due to high wafer bow from so many layered films causing strain in the wafer due to lattice mismatch and very high aspect ratio holes. This requires some unique capabilities such as small angle X-ray scattering.
There's plenty of scattering based optical techniques too, but those I don't know much about. Optical scatterometry is like black magic to me, so I don't qualify to talk about it.
Dimensional metrology is supposedly difficult to crack, it isn't just about lateral CD and point defect inspection (which can be taken care of by CD-SEM which China already has).
KLA metrology machine perhaps.
Tom's hardware is hardly a reputable source on serious topics like in-depth information on semiconductor industry and equipment imo. Aren't they primarily writing about PC parts and reviewing them?
Others can probably translate this better than me. Talks about Kingsemi here seeing huge increases in order in first 3 quarters of this year. Front end track orders (coating) customers include SMIC JingCheng (new Beijing fab), HLMC, CXMT and CXMT (repeat orders) as well as 12-inch KrF degumming equipment for Silan. Its front end wafer cleaning machines got orders from SMIC, HLMC, Yandong and other customers. Currently, KingSemi has 2 factories in Shenyang.
I have a decent enough handle on lithography and understand China's problems there and the progress it's making on solving them. I know next to nothing about inspection - what Chinese companies are there that are analogues of KLA and what's their relative competitiveness? What are the major problems in the field and how much progress is being made on them?
Interesting thread. Not sure how reliable Paul Triolo is?
Another article:
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Looked through his thread. While he tried hard here, he really overstates a look of these issues. I don't know why he even wasted time talking about cambricon since they are such a small fish. He also wasted a couple of posts on smee even though smee is unlikely to use any American component. He is also wrong that smee is china's only lithography maker. The only thing extra he mentioned which is kind of interesting is the part on biren and tsmc. But even with that, I think he is overstating the importance.
In the future, I would just recommend people to not post his takes.
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