Hare SQ Negative Epoxy Photoresist for Microfluidics
Rated 3.5/5 based on 11 customer reviews

Hare SQ Negative Epoxy Photoresist for Microfluidics

HARE SQ™ is a negative tone epoxy photoresist specifically formulated for microfluidics and PDMS molding. Sensitive to Near-UV, i-line and broadband wavelengths.
HARE SQ™ uses superior epoxies, now adapted to microfluidics, with improved optical transparency, particles and filter-ability, and lot-to-lot consistency. This makes HARE SQ™ outperform standard SU-8 when it comes to soft-lithography.
Film thickness from 2 to 100 µm in a single coating, up to 200 µm with a double coating.
Available immediately
€170.00
HARE SQ™ is a negative tone epoxy photoresist specifically formulated for microfluidics and PDMS molding. Sensitive to Near-UV, i-line and broadband wavelengths.
HARE SQ™ uses superior epoxies, now adapted to microfluidics, with improved optical transparency, particles and filter-ability, and lot-to-lot consistency. This makes HARE SQ™ outperform standard SU-8 when it comes to soft-lithography.
Film thickness from 2 to 100 µm in a single coating, up to 200 µm with a double coating.

Hare SQ superior photoresist for microfluidics

Hare SQ has been developped with superior specifications to address applications as demanding as microelectronics. This Hare SQ for microfluidics inherits from this development and shows outstanding performances when used for soft-lithography.

Hare SQ for Microfluidics offers the following advantages:

  • Superior cleanliness
  • Excellent reproducibility
  • Improved consistent surface energy for soft-lithography in Microfluidics
  • Thourough Quality Control
  • Better lot-to-lot consistency
  • Fully compatible with SU-8 processes

5 types are available, for typical thicknesses as follows:

  • SQ-2 for around 1 to 4 µm
  • SQ-5 for around 3 to 11 µm
  • SQ-10 for around 8 to 22 µm
  • SQ-25 for around 11 to 48 µm
  • SQ-50 for around 25 to 100 µm

    Easy to switch from SU-8 epoxy photoresists

    When switching to Hare SQ, you won't have to modify your workflow: HARE SQ shares the same protocol (see the Protocol tab). 
    While we advise you to use Hare SQ Developer, a premium grade chemical, you can also use your usual SU-8 developer, or standard PGMEA. 

    Just like SU-8, Hare SQ is available in different types (SQ-2 to SQ-50) depending on the aimed thickness, and in various packaging (from 100 mL to 4 x 4 L), always at a very affordable price!


    5 reasons to switch from SU-8 to Hare SQ

    PLUG-N-PLAY

    HARE SQ™ is fully compatible with established SU-8 lithographic processes. Pull out SU-8 negative epoxy and plug in KemLab HARE SQ™.

    LOWER PRICING

    HARE SQ™ is designed to be competitive in the market with prices that beat the competition. Better quality for less cost.

    SUPERIOR RAW MATERIALS

    Start with better materials, make a better product. HARE SQ™ uses a superior quality resin specially designed for the microelectronics industry. This superior resin manufacturing process produces a cleaner, more consistent negative epoxy photoresist with fewer particles, more transparency, and fewer microbubbles.

    BETTER OPTICAL TRANSPARENCY

    HARE SQ™ resin material is visually cleaner, less yellow and more transparent resulting in improved transmission and resistance to oxidative yellowing versus SU-8.

    APPLICATION-FOCUSED QUALITY CONTROL

    Value-added testing was identified and implemented to benefit specific microfluidic and optical industry requirements.

     

    Kemlab Hare SQ for Microfluidics Datasheet

    PDF Datasheet

    Kemlab Hare SQ SDS

    Safety DataSheet

    General Properties
    Tone Negative
    Max Single Coat Thickness, µm   100
    Aspect Ratio   10:1
    Storage Condition / Shelf Life  15-30°C / 1 yr
    Mechanical Properties
    Softening Point / Tg 210°C
    Young’s Modulus 2.0 GPa
    Coeff. of Thermal Expansion, CTE 52 ppm/°C
    Tensile Strength 60 MPa
    Thermal Conductivity 0.2 – 0.3 W/m·K
    Thermal Stability 315°C
    Electrical Properties
    Dielectric Constant (relative), 1 GHz, 50% RH 4.0
    Dielectric Loss, 1 GHz ~0.02
    Dielectric Strength (V/µm) 112
    Volume Resistivity (Ω·cm) ~2.5 x 1016

    SUBSTRATE PREPARATION

    HARE SQ™ adheres to variety of substrates; including silicon, gold, aluminum, chromium, and copper. For maximum adhesion, substrates should be clean and dry prior to applying HARE SQ™ photoresist.

    SPINCOATING

    Film thickness is targeted using the spin speed curves shown below. The coat program uses a 5 - 10 second spread cycle. Spin time at final speed is 30 seconds.

    Hare SQ Spin Speed vs. Film Thickness

    Kemlab Hare SQ Spin Curve Film Thickness Kemlab Hare SQ Spin curve Film Thickness

    SOFTBAKE

    The recommended softbake for the HARE SQ™ utilizes a two-step bake on a contact hot plate in order to minimize film stress and adhesion issues. See the table below for details.

    EXPOSURE

    HARE SQ™ is designed for near UV (300-400nm) exposure wavelengths. Exposure dose will vary depending on the exposure tool set, film thickness, and process conditions. Nominal exposure doses are shown in the table below. If you know the typical lamp surface power density of your illumination device, you can use our dedicated calculator to get personalized exposure times.

    POST-EXPOSURE BAKE (PEB)

    Recommended PEB time is adjusted according to film thickness in order to ensure sufficient crosslinking of the resist film. A two-step PEB is recommended to reduce film stress which can lead to cracking and/or adhesion loss. See the table below for details.

    DEVELOPMENT

    HARE SQ™ is designed for use with KemLab HARE SQ™ Developer. SU-8 Developer and PGMEA can be used but with no guarantee on the optimal performances of the resist. HARE SQ™ can be developed using immersion, puddle or spray puddle. Thicker films benefit from refreshing developer during the develop step; such as with a double puddle. Rinse developer off substrate with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and dry. See the table below for recommended development time.

    HARDBAKE

    HARE SQ™ can be hardbaked for permanent applications that would benefit from further crosslinking.
    Bake at > 120°C for at least 5 minutes (hot plate). A short hardbake can fuse cracks caused by film stress. For permanent structures, temperatures above 150°C are recommended: oven bake will increase crosslinking with minimal increase in stress.

    Kemlab Hare SQ workflow table

    *Exposure time is given by the ratio of the given Exposure Dose value and the power density of your illumination device.
    For instance, for a source with 35 mW/cm² power density, exposure time for a 2 µm thick film is 200/35 =  5.7 s.

    How is HARE SQ different than SU-8?
    HARE SQ is a direct substitute for most applications. The epoxy resin used in HARE SQ is originally designed and manufactured for the microelectronics industry; ensuring superior cleanliness and lot-to-lot reproducibility.

    Which exposure wavelenght should I use?
    HARE SQ™ is designed for near UV (300-400nm) exposure wavelengths, including the commonly used i-line (365 nm). Nominal exposure doses are shown  for broadband exposure with a 360 nm cutoff filter.

    How should I store HARE SQ negative epoxy?

    The SQ resist series shows excellent resistance to temperature extremes in terms of performance and shelf life. It is recommended however that for best performance and resist life that the material be stored at room temperature.

    Can I use SU-8 Developer or PGMEA with HARE SQ?
    Yes, you can use it. KemLab cannot guarantee the optimum performance of the resist with these other developers.

    How do I remove HARE SQ?
    HARE SQ is a permanent resist and very difficult to remove after cross-linking. However, it can be removed using plasma etching, laser ablation, etc.

    Is there a double coat process recommendation for larger thicknesses?
    Yes. See the dedicated guide here.

    Payment Terms

    You can either order and pay via credit card or invoice (through a purchase order). Request a quote easily by clicking on the "Request a Quote" button in the cart page.

    Please note that some products are not available for direct purchase: just click "Request a Quote" on the product page and fill in the form to get more informations!

    Credit card 

    • Add your products to the cart
    • In the cart page, click on Proceed to Checkout
    • Complete your credit card informations (don't worry, we are using Stripe, a PCI-certified program specialized in online transactions)
    • That's it! You will receive an order confirmation within a few minutes, and our team will send you the invoice.

    Invoice

    • Add your products to the cart
    • In the website header, click on Request a Quote
    • Fill in the required informations, then click on Submit Quote
    • Our team will send you a quote shortly
    • After receiving the quote, just send your purchase order at contact@darwin-microfluidics.com
    • Our team will complete your purchase and send you the invoice!

     

    If you wish to pay in USD, GBP or AUD, please specify it in your PO. We can add the converted value in the required currency to the quote if requested.

     

    Worldwide shipping

    We ship worldwide from our warehouse in France.

    Shipping charges are calculated based on the shipping country, and can be estimated from the cart page. Our shipping rates and times are:

    • France: GLS (1-2 business days), free shipping above 350€
    • Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czechia, Slovakia:
      • GLS (2-4 business days), free shipping above 350€
      • DHL Express (1-2 business days), reduced rate above 350€
    • Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Greece, Cyprus, Malta: DHL Express (1-2 business days), free shipping above 400€
    • United Kingdom: DHL Express (1-2 business days), free shipping above 400€
    • USA, Canada: DHL Express (1-3 business days), free shipping above 400€
    • Switzerland: DHL Express (1-2 days), free shipping above 450€
    • Other countries: DHL Express, shipping rates based on the destination, weight and dimensions

     

    If you wish to use your own shipping account, we will charge a flat fee of 15€.

    We reserve the right to apply a surcharge for parcels > 30 kg, palletized shipments, or packages with dimensions exceeding the maximum dimensions of our carriers.

    Please note that our standard shipping incoterms are DAP (Delivered At Place), or EXW if using your own carrier.

    Contact us if you have any questions!

    Customer Reviews

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    M
    Mohamed Abdelgawad
    Quick delivery

    Thanks for t he superfast delivery

    Customer Reviews

    Based on 1 review
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    M
    Mohamed Abdelgawad
    Quick delivery

    Thanks for t he superfast delivery