White Paper - Free Download
Power Electronics Market Needs & Manufacturing Challenges
In his article “Power Electronics Market Needs & Manufacturing Challenges”, Hans Ulrich Voeller, Senior Product Manager Substrates at CeramTec, analyses the growing demands on electronic substrates for high-performance power modules in view of the global electrification and decarbonisation trends. At the same time, he sheds light on the material selection and manufacturing challenges for their reliable production.
In this White Paper you will learn about:
- Growth of power electronics through green technologies: The global market for power electronics is expected to grow to over USD 70 billion by 2033, driven by electromobility, renewable energies, industrial electrification and energy-efficient consumer goods.
- Choice of material crucial for reliability: Traditional substrates such as alumina (Al2O3) reach their limits with increasing power density. Materials such as aluminum nitride (AlN), zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) and, above all, silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) offer better thermal and mechanical properties for modern applications.
- Substrate quality is critical for module service life: even microscopic defects in ceramic substrates can lead to premature failures, which is why the highest demands are placed on material purity, surface inspection and electrical testing.
- Automated production and testing processes as a success factor: CeramTec relies on highly automated processes such as optical 2D/3D inspection, high-voltage testing and AI-supported defect detection to ensure consistent quality in large quantities.
- Market trends require continuous innovation: The miniaturisation and increasing power density of power modules require continuous further development of both ceramic materials and manufacturing processes in order to meet future requirements.
