Polycrystalline CVD diamond in electronics: important cost factors

In the development of a given technology, the process costs must be understood if commercial scale production is to be successful. To achieve this goal, Technical Cost Modeling has evolved from traditional costing methodologies in order to estimate the dynamics of a system of manufacture, and to be used as a tool for determining optimal scale-up conditions. For the manufacture of thermal management chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond, cost models have been developed in older to estimate the appropriate scale-up conditions for different CVD diamond deposition and finishing technologies in order to fabricate diamond substrates for electronics packaging. Subsequent cost analysis is then undertaken to assess the viability of diamond as an electronics packaging material. With this ability to identify the cost of future manufacturing scenarios, the R&D pace of a promising technology can be quickened, or the investment schedule in an unfavorable technology can be phased out.<>