The chemo-mechanical effect of cutting fluid on material removal in diamond scribing of silicon

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 111; no. 1
• Main Authors: Kumar, Arkadeep, Melkote, Shreyes N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melville American Institute of Physics 03.07.2017
• Subjects: Applied physics; Cutting fluids; Diamond machining; Ductile-brittle transition; Fracture mechanics; Manufacturing; Microcracks; Sawing; Silicon; Silicon wafers; Single crystals; Wafers; Wire
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.4991536

The mechanical integrity of silicon wafers cut by diamond wire sawing depends on the damage (e.g., micro-cracks) caused by the cutting process. The damage type and extent depends on the material removal mode, i.e., ductile or brittle. This paper investigates the effect of cutting fluid on the mode of material removal in diamond scribing of single crystal silicon, which simulates the material removal process in diamond wire sawing of silicon wafers. We conducted scribing experiments with a diamond tipped indenter in the absence (dry) and in the presence of a water-based cutting fluid. We found that the cutting mode is more ductile when scribing in the presence of cutting fluid compared to dry scribing. We explain the experimental observations by the chemo-mechanical effect of the cutting fluid on silicon, which lowers its hardness and promotes ductile mode material removal.