Iljin Materials "First Domestic Success in 1.5㎛ Ultra-Thin Localization"

Copper foil. Photo by Iljin Materials

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] Iljin Materials announced on the 25th that it has succeeded in the domestic localization of 1.5㎛ semiconductor ultra-thin copper foil (Ultra Thin Copperfoil) for the first time in Korea.

This product was monopolized by one Japanese company (Mitsui), making Iljin Materials the first domestic company and the second in the world to achieve this.

Ultra-thin copper foil is used in semiconductor packages, with a thickness of 1.5㎛ (micrometers/one millionth of a meter), making it the thinnest copper foil used in the electronic IT industry. It is 1/100 the thickness of a human hair. It is thinner than the copper foil for electric vehicle batteries, which is currently the most widely used at 4.5~10㎛, and requires extreme manufacturing technology, earning it the nickname of a dream product in the copper foil industry.

As electronic IT devices become smaller and more integrated, semiconductor manufacturers have continued to demand ultra-fine circuits, but there were no mass production companies in Korea, and the Japanese company Mitsui monopolized the market.

Iljin Materials succeeded in developing ultra-thin copper foil products in 2006, and after 15 years of trial and error, recently obtained certification from global semiconductor companies and succeeded in mass production.

Since 1978, Iljin Materials has been the first domestic company to develop copper foil, which was monopolized by Japan, achieving localization and laying the foundation for Korea as a strong electronic IT nation as a specialized materials company.

Copper foil was an essential material for electronic product PCB substrates at the time of development, and its applications have expanded to large secondary batteries such as electric vehicles and ESS.

In 1999, the Ministry of Science and Technology selected Iljin’s copper foil manufacturing technology as one of the “Top 100 Technologies of 20th Century Korea,” recognizing its industrial and historical value.

Currently, copper foil for PCB substrates and electric vehicle batteries is held by domestic companies including Iljin Materials, SK Nexilis, Doosan Solus, as well as Taiwanese company Chang Chun and Chinese company Watson.

Yang Jeom-sik, CEO of Iljin Materials, said, “Ultra-thin copper foil is the ultimate technology in the copper foil industry, and Mitsui was the only company in the world to succeed in mass production. The significance of this domestic localization success lies not only in import substitution but also in securing ultra-differentiated technology that competitors cannot surpass.”