Comparative Study on Grinding Behavior of C-Face and Si-Face in Laser-Sliced 4H-SiC Wafers

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Abstract:

With the growing application of wide-bandgap semiconductors such as SiC in power electronics, efficient and low-damage machining of large-diameter, high-quality 4H-SiC wafers has become a critical research priority. This study systematically compares the grinding behavior of the C-and Si-faces of laser-sliced 4H-SiC wafers and reveals the effect of crystallographic anisotropy on tool wear. In the experiments, a picosecond laser was used to induce internal crystal modification, and multiple pairs of 12-inch high-purity semi-insulating crystals and wafers were obtained through ultrasonic separation. These wafers were subsequently ground using #800/#8000 resin-bonded diamond wheels. Material removal and wheel wear were recorded in real time, and the wheel wear ratio (W/M) was adopted as the key evaluation metric. Nanoindentation and white-light interferometry were further employed to characterize the mechanical properties and surface morphology of the two crystal faces. Results show that in both rough and fine grinding, the C-face demonstrates superior material removal performance despite its higher hardness, whereas the Si-face is more prone to wheel degradation. For thin wafers, residual laser focus near the surface further aggravates wheel wear. These findings establish a link between crystallographic anisotropy, laser-modified layer position, and wheel wear behavior, providing an experimental foundation for clarifying the underlying mechanisms and developing face-specific grinding strategies for high-quality SiC wafer fabrication.

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