High temperature co-fired ceramic
Encyclopedia
High temperature co-fired ceramic (HTCC) is a multi-layer packaging
technology for the electronics industry, used in military electronics, MEMS
, microprocessor
and RF
applications.
HTCC packages generally consist of multilayers of alumina oxide with tungsten and molymanganese metalization. The ceramic is fired at around 1600 degrees Celsius
, which is significantly higher than a similar technology Low temperature co-fired ceramic
, or LTCC. Compared to LTCC, HTCC has higher resistance
conductive layers.
Advantages of HTCC includes mechanical rigidity and hermeticity
, both of which are important in high-reliability and environmentally stressful applications. Another advantage is HTCC's thermal dissipation capability, which makes this a microprocessor packaging choice, especially for higher performance processors.
Electronic packaging
Electronic packaging is a major discipline within the field of electronic engineering, and includes a wide variety of technologies. It refers to enclosures and protective features built into the product itself, and not to shipping containers...
technology for the electronics industry, used in military electronics, MEMS
Microelectromechanical systems
Microelectromechanical systems is the technology of very small mechanical devices driven by electricity; it merges at the nano-scale into nanoelectromechanical systems and nanotechnology...
, microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
and RF
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
applications.
HTCC packages generally consist of multilayers of alumina oxide with tungsten and molymanganese metalization. The ceramic is fired at around 1600 degrees Celsius
Celsius
Celsius is a scale and unit of measurement for temperature. It is named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius , who developed a similar temperature scale two years before his death...
, which is significantly higher than a similar technology Low temperature co-fired ceramic
Low temperature co-fired ceramic
Low temperature co-fired ceramic devices are monolithic, ceramic microelectronic devices. In this context ‘co-fired ceramic’ means that the ceramic support structure and any conductive, resistive, and dielectric materials are fired in a kiln at the same time, and ‘Low temperature’ means that the...
, or LTCC. Compared to LTCC, HTCC has higher resistance
Electrical resistance
The electrical resistance of an electrical element is the opposition to the passage of an electric current through that element; the inverse quantity is electrical conductance, the ease at which an electric current passes. Electrical resistance shares some conceptual parallels with the mechanical...
conductive layers.
Advantages of HTCC includes mechanical rigidity and hermeticity
Hermetic seal
A hermetic seal is the quality of being airtight. In common usage, the term often implies being impervious to air or gas. When used technically, it is stated in conjunction with a specific test method and conditions of usage.-Etymology :...
, both of which are important in high-reliability and environmentally stressful applications. Another advantage is HTCC's thermal dissipation capability, which makes this a microprocessor packaging choice, especially for higher performance processors.