AGY, JPS Composite Materials launch domestic production of low-CTE glass fiber fabrics

Low-CTE L-HDI fabric. Source | AGY

Specialty glass fibers manufacturer AGY (Aiken, S.C., U.S.) has formed a strategic partnership with JPS Composite Materials LLC (Anderson, S.C., U.S.) to manufacture and produce a North American-based low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) glass fiber fabric designed specifically for advanced integrated circuit (IC) substrates and next-gen semiconductor packaging technologies.

This collaboration combines AGY’s L-HDI ultra-low CTE glass fiber — engineered to provide ultra-low CTE, optimal dielectric properties and consistent filament geometry — produced at its Aiken, South Carolina, facility, with JPS Composite Materials’ weaving and fabric production capabilities at its Statesville, North Carolina facility, ensuring tight construction control and quality standards necessary for semiconductor-grade fabric. Together, the companies are establishing a fully domestic supply chain for critical reinforcement materials used in high-performance semiconductor applications.

Low-CTE glass fiber fabric plays a vital role in IC substrate performance by enhancing dimensional stability, reducing warpage and supporting higher interconnect density. These characteristics are essential for packaging platforms such as Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate (CoWoS) and System-on-Integrated-Chips (SoIC), which enable high bandwidth, improved power efficiency and greater functional integration in AI, data center and high-performance computing applications.

“Establishing a North American source for low-CTE glass fiber fabric is a major milestone for the semiconductor supply chain,” says Patrick Hunter, chief commercial officer and president of AGY. In the U.S., there are initiatives to localize critical semiconductor materials, enhance supply chain security and advance domestic manufacturing capabilities in support of AI, aerospace, defense and high-performance computing markets.

Initial production is underway, with customer qualifications in progress.

AGY says this product is its alternative to the current T-glass shortage. For related content, read “On the radar: The role of T-glass in AI.”