Glass substrates have become more popular for manufacturers planning their electronics packaging. Which factors drive that trend, and what should you expect as an industry professional or enthusiast in the coming months and years?
Expanded Versatility
As manufacturers begin exploring glass properties for advanced packaging, they often determine that the material has many advantageous characteristics that make it a viable choice for many types of electronics. That realization encourages them to consider numerous potential use cases that may allow them to reduce their dependence on less readily available materials within supply chains.
A 2024 industry analysis highlighted numerous expected growth areas for glass substrates, including micro and mini LED screens and displays tailored for virtual and augmented reality devices. The analysts also noted potential use cases in artificial intelligence and other high-performance applications, particularly because glass offers excellent thermal and mechanical stability to support higher-density chip packages.
A notable takeaway was that the market encompassing glass substrate packaging will increase in worth by $2.9 billion in the forecast period to 2030. The analysts expect that change to significantly benefit the supply chains for semiconductors and displays. They also note that manufacturers have begun considering glass substrates because some electronic devices are increasingly large or complex, making previous materials less appropriate.
However, suppose more electronics manufacturers incorporate glass substrates into their electronics packages. This change may require additional production or quality control methods, especially since glass can break unless people handle it carefully. Amazon subjects the glass in its Kindle devices to extreme pressure, ensuring it can withstand years of regular use. Similarly, people who test iPhones see how well the glass tolerates pressure and drops. They apply these efforts more broadly, too.
Some force ranges for compact benchtop vibration tables are up to 90 pounds, helping manufacturers run thorough tests to see how their products handle stress. These will remain relevant, but producers may need to expand their processes after incorporating glass substrates to keep quality controls comprehensive.
Enhanced Innovation
Many glass properties for advanced packaging align with manufacturers’ need to remain on the cutting edge of electronics improvements. Some have experienced limitations when working with conventional materials and wonder if an alternative material could overcome them.
In one example, Intel employees spent a decade researching glass substrates for advanced electronics packaging. Their efforts centered on the realization that people would soon reach silicon’s limits while attempting to scale transistors on current packages. However, they believe glass will enable progress in building next-generation semiconductors.
The internal research indicated this material shows 50% less pattern distortion and tolerates higher temperatures than its counterparts. That advantage gives electronics designers more flexibility in choosing decisions to support specific desirable outcomes, such as improved power delivery or signal routing.
Additionally, Intel’s work suggested glass substrates enable a tenfold increase in interconnect density, which could become a crucial improvement for demanding computing applications. The coverage of the company’s efforts mentioned a goal of fitting 1 trillion transistors on a package by 2030. The successes leading up to that deadline should help engineers and others find the most feasible ways to meet that daunting goal while eliminating possibilities that lab results indicate may not work well enough in the real world.
The United States accounts for approximately 12% of the world’s semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Recent investments have also focused on making the country a more dominant force in this area. Intel has its headquarters there, and efforts like those exploring opportunities to use glass substrates could keep the nation relevant on the global tech stage.
Improved Competitiveness
Many well-known electronics companies have announced an intention to ramp up investments in glass substrates, leading to a situation that suggests some executives have decided their businesses must act now to avoid falling behind in an intensely competitive market. Samsung, LG and SK are some of the established electronics brands developing glass substrates.
So far, SK is ahead of its competitors, having opened a glass substrate manufacturing plant in Georgia. However, Samsung is not far behind and aims to mass-produce in a new facility by 2026. Opening new locations takes time, especially if companies hope to produce entirely new products.
Decision-makers may believe it is best to begin construction before ensuring there is an ample market demand for glass substrates. Since many have recognized that improvements must occur to support technological growth and enable more powerful computing applications, they may position glass as the necessary material despite its comparatively limited real-life use cases.
In another example, SCHMID Group announced its ability to create and metalize glass cores for advanced packaging by using high-tech processes and machines to scale the output. Company representatives believe the artificial intelligence and data center sectors will be the first to benefit from these advancements. However, they also foresee other high-speed computing applications soon, including those in cars.
Leaders of these companies apparently view glass substrate capabilities as essential to future competitiveness. Although it is too early to predict the outcomes of that stance, these businesses and others like them will be well-placed to react if glass packaging continues gaining momentum.
Broadened Growth Opportunities
As electronics professionals explore glass properties for advanced packaging and consider future use cases, their increased knowledge may present attractive opportunities to grow their skills while boosting their employers’ profits. If that happens, consumers will gradually see more products featuring glass substrates.
