• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2023

In this study, the sludge formation in the wastewater drain from the advanced packaging process mechanisms are revealed as well as the key factors, materials, and sludge prevention methods using surfactant. Compared with that of conventional packaging process, advanced packaging process employ similar process to the semiconductor fabrication process, and thus many processes may generate wastewater. In specific, a large amount of wastewater may generate during the carrier wafer bonding, photo, development, and carrier wafer debonding processes. In order to identify the key factors for the formation of sludge during the advanced packaging process, six types of chemicals including bonding glue, HMDS, photoresist (PR), PR developer, debonding cleaner, and water are utilized and mixing evaluation is assessed. As a result, it is confirmed that the black solid sludge is formed, which is originated by the sludge seed formation by hydrolysis/dehydration reaction of HMDS and sludge growth via hydrophobic-hydrophobic binding with sludge seed and PR. For the sludge prevention investigation, three surfactants of CTAB, PEG, and shampoo are mixed with the key materials of sludge, and it is confirmed that the sludge formations are successfully suppressed. The underlying mechanism behind the sludge formation is that the carbon tails of the surfactant bind to PR with hydrophobic-hydrophobic interaction and inhibit the reaction with HMDS-based slurry seeds to prevent the sludge formation. In this regard, it is expected that various problems like clogging in drains and pipes during the advanced packaging process may effectively solve by the injection of surfactants into the drains.