Skip to main content

Ceramic Substrates

Ceramic Substrates by NEOTech: High-Reliability Solutions for Complex Applications

At NEOTech, we lead the way in Ceramic Substrate manufacturing, offering unmatched expertise and quality in the production of Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC), High Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (HTCC) packages, and Thick Film substrates.

Our comprehensive services support applications across a variety of markets, including Aerospace & Defense, Medical, and High-Tech Industrial sectors, where robust, high-performance substrates are essential.

Capabilities for Advanced Ceramic Substrates

NEOTech’s ceramic substrate capabilities cover a range of advanced materials and designs ideal for stable performance in both cryogenic and high-temperature environments. Our offerings include:

  • LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic): Provides a versatile substrate for high-frequency and high-interconnect density applications.
  • HTCC (High Temperature Co-fired Ceramic): Available in both Aluminum Nitride (AIN) and Alumina, HTCC substrates offer excellent hermeticity, durability, and thermal conductivity.
  • Thick Film: High-quality thick film technology used across multiple demanding industries.

We are recognized globally as a leader in multilayer ceramic manufacturing, delivering reliable substrates for applications in sectors that demand top-tier quality and performance.

Microelectronics Ceramic Substrate Technology | NEOTech

Markets & Product Examples

Our ceramic substrates are essential to a range of high-reliability applications, such as:

  • Medical Devices: Custom ceramics for cochlear implants, dental products, and more.
  • RF Transmit & Receive Modules: Packages for high-frequency RF applications.
  • Radar and Optoelectronics Systems: Used in Aerospace & Defense for precise, dependable operation.
  • Downhole and Cryogenic Applications: Designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions.

NEOTech: A Commitment to Quality and Process Excellence

At NEOTech, quality management is embedded in everything we do. Our ceramic substrate manufacturing facility operates with a full suite of certifications and rigorous risk management protocols, including:

  • ISO 9001 and AS9100 standards
  • MIL-PRF-38534 Class H and Class K capabilities
  • ITAR Compliance
  • Qualification systems for both automotive and military/aerospace standards
  • Advanced quality assurance tools like PPAP, capability studies, and process FMEAs

Our continuous improvement initiatives and cost-reduction programs are designed to enhance efficiency while ensuring the highest level of quality and reliability for our customers.

Engineering Support ServicesHigh Tech Industrial Solutions - Electronics Manufacturing | NEOTech

NEOTech provides a variety of engineering services directly at our ceramic substrate facility, offering our customers a streamlined build-to-print experience with co-located engineering support. Services include:

  • CAD Layout and DC Routing: Accurate and reliable circuit layouts.
  • Design Rule Checks and Design Optimization: Ensures that designs meet all reliability and performance criteria.
  • Reliability Testing: Includes temperature cycling, failure mode analysis, and electrical testing for opens and shorts.

Ceramic Substrate Manufacturing

Our in-house capabilities for fabricating HTCC and LTCC ceramic substrates allow us to maintain strict controls and offer substrates with hermetic sealing, multilayer capabilities up to 50+ layers, and superior thermal performance. We also offer thick film technology, BeO substrates, and additional substrate finishing processes like plating and etch-back.

Advantages of LTCC and Aluminum Nitride (AIN) Technologies

NEOTech’s LTCC and AIN solutions deliver high-interconnect density, compactness, and performance for high-frequency applications. Benefits include:

  • Embedded Passive Components: Reducing the need for external components.
  • High Density Interconnect (HDI) Options: For sophisticated circuit designs.
  • Thermal Coefficient Expansion (TCE) Compatibility: Closely matches materials like Si, GaAs, and SiC.
  • Long-Term Reliability: Stable at both low and high temperatures, with hermeticity and options for brazed-on components.

NEOTech | Microelectronics Ceramic Substrate

Meeting the Needs of High-Reliability Markets

As a trusted partner to leading defense, space, and high-reliability electronics OEMs, NEOTech brings unparalleled experience and dedication to ceramic substrate manufacturing. Our team of engineers and technicians is committed to delivering the highest quality products that meet the exacting standards of our customers.

What is LTCC?

Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) is a multi-layer ceramic PCB solution that provides high frequency performance with gold and silver conductors. LTCC substrates offer additional functionalities, serving as smart substrates, structural components, and multi-purpose packages.

 

LTCC diagram | NEOTech

What is HTCC?

High Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (HTCC) provides the highest level of hermetic sealing and strength, ideal for high-reliability applications such as defense electronics, infrared sensors, and aerospace systems. NEOTech offers both Aluminum Nitride and Alumina HTCC, each delivering superior thermal conductivity and protection in challenging environments.

Browse Our Other Services

Microelectronics for mission critical high-technology products - NEOTech

Microelectronics Services

Microelectronics Services
Microelectronics Advanced Equipment | NEOTech

Microelectronics Assembly

Microelectronics Assembly
NEOTech Microelectronics for Space Missions

Space Qualified Manufacturing

Space Qualified Manufacturing
Contact NEOTech

Implantable Medical Devices

Implantable Medical Devices

Plating Options & Thick Film Systems

Plating Options

  • Ni-Au plated silver metallization
  • Gold (Electrolytic and Electroless)
  • Nickel (Electrolytic and Electroless)

Ceramic Substrates, Planting Options - NEOTech EMS

Thick Film Systems

NEOTech offers standard Thick Film Substrates used in most signal and low power applications. We work with a variety of substrates including BeO, AlN and Alumina (Al2O3).

  • DuPont, Ferro, ESL, and Heraeus Gold, Silver and Copper conductors
  • Substrate sizes up to 4.0″ X 4.0″

Thick Film Systems - Ceramic Substrates | NEOTech

Advantages of HTCC and LTCC

LTCC and HTCC technology is a unique solution for high-interconnect density and compact networks, as well as high frequency applications. Key advantages include:

  • High density interconnect
  • Cost competitive plated Silver systems available
  • TCE closely matches that of Si, GaAs and SiC (and other associated compounds)
  • Brazed on components (connectors, seal ring, heat spreaders)
  • Hermetic packaging
  • Outstanding long term reliability

Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) Systems

  • Embedded passive components
    DuPont 951, 9K7, and 943
  • Ferro A6M, A6S, and L8
  • Gold, silver and mixed metal systems

Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic/ HTCC / AlN / Thick Film / Thin Film Substrates and Packages 

Ceramic Substrate manufacturing includes: 

  • Thick Film
  • ECP Thick Film
  • BeO substrates
  • Plating
  • HTCC/LTCC board fabrication

HTCC Systems

Ceramic Substrate manufacturing includes: 

  • Multiple AlN tape systems
  • Thermal conductivity >150 W/mK, Tungsten metallization electroless plated with Ni-Au

ECP Thick Film Systems 

NEOTech also provides next generation Etch Conductor Photolithography (ECP) Thick Film Substrates suitable for microwave and high-resolution lines and space applications. The Thick Film conductor material is fired in a dense, non-porous film over a large area of the substrate. The high resolution lines are then defined using photoresist and etch techniques to achieve widths and spaces as low as 0.003″ (0.0762mm). The ECP process is based around standard thick film Au that is already qualified by many OEMs, thus avoiding long qualification cycles and bringing customers to market quickly. ECP technology allows designers to combine RF and digital functions on substrates, and offers options for integrating capacitors, resistors, inductors, couplers, and filters. Capacitors and resistors can be laser trimmed to obtain +/-3% and +/-1% tolerances, respectively.

  • High frequency applications through 100 GHz
  • Etched conductors lines/spaces
  • Precision layer to layer dielectric alignment (+/- 12.5 micron) in multilayer construction
  • Dense, solid thru-holes for interconnection/grounding
  • On-circuit integration of passive components including Lange couplers, resistors (0.5 Ohm – 100 m Ohm, trimmed to 1%) and capacitors (5 – 200pF, trimmed to 3%), inductors, couplers, and filters.
  • 30% to 50% lower insertion loss

Your product is vital and must meet your customer's quality demands

Expand your team to include NEOTech’s industry experts. Contact us and let’s discuss your specific design and product requirements, and together – we’ll find a solution tailored to fit your needs.