Tests of silicon wafer
Wetting properties & polishing test
Microchip production is complicated. More than 600 working steps are required to turn the raw material, quartz sand, into a modern processor. Most of these steps require the use of special chemicals, for example to clean and etch silicon chips.
Every step of chip manufacture takes place in clean room laboratories where all the furnishings are plastic and filters are installed to remove the last particle of dust from the ambient air. Anyone entering these facilities must wear a full set of protective gear including gloves and a face mask.