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Gold wires were used for bonding in integrated circuits too. I think because gold is much more ductile, so you can make thin wires that won't break. It's also m
by kens 5y ago
Gold wires were used for bonding in integrated circuits too. I think because gold is much more ductile, so you can make thin wires that won't break. It's also more resistant to corrosion, which is a problem with copper wire.
- pfdietz 5y agoDoesn't copper interact badly with silicon?
- kens 5y agoI don't know about copper-silicon interactions, but normally you'd bond to a metal pad, not to silicon directly. For a while, the "purple plague" was a problem when gold bond wires reacted badly with aluminum bond pads, forming a purple compound. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold%E2%80%93aluminium_intermetallic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold%E2%80%93aluminium_interme...
- jacquesm 5y agoThe fact that it is more ductile probably also helps with the welding process.