New toxic-free, superior multilayer technology that packages together electronic components can help country’s strategic sectors

What is the news? 

CSIR– NIIST (National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology), under the purview of “Advanced Manufacturing Techniques scheme” of Department of Science & Technology (DST) has indigenously developed toxic-free and superior multilayer series of LTCC tapes and HTCC substrates which are on par with international standards. 

About the technology: LTCC tapes and HTCC substrates 

These technologies package together electronic components like resistors, capacitors to produce multilayer circuits, an all gold system as a substitute for the imported commercial LTCC tape system. 

They have dielectric properties or the ability of storing electric energy in an electric field that are comparable to the commercial tapes, with better thermal conductivity than them. 

An aqueous tape casting technique has been developed, which is relatively health hazard free since it does not employ volatile organic components like xylene and methyl ethyl ketone. The technology developed is a glass-free LTCC tape casting composition, which can address the brutality issues of tapes. 

What is the need of this technology? 

Low orbit satellite systems which are in demand today need a sustainable technology supporting reduced satellite volume and mass, besides reduced production time and affordable cost 

Hybrid microsystems based on LTCC technology (integration of passive components, such as a capacitor, resistor, inductor, resonator and filter, etc., into a multilayered ceramic module) is an interesting solution in future communication satellites due to their outstanding performance and moderate cost. 

What are the applications of this technology? 

These tapes find application in various satellite communication components which require thousands of microwave substrates every year as also in Deference Research laboratories and BHEL 

If the testing is successful, NIIST tapes can be employed in ISRO’s several microwave components like S- and C- band receivers for their satellite transponders. 

What are the potential advantages to India? 

It can work as a cost-effective replacement to the commercial LTCC tapes which India is currently importing, thereby saving drain of heavy amount from India. 

It is less toxic and more environment friendly. 

Source: This post is based on the article “New toxic-free, superior multilayer technology that packages together electronic components can help country’s strategic sectors” published in ‘PIB’ on 08 October 2021.