Chapter 180:

I should have seen it myself.

Semiconductor production isn’t just about circuit design and equipment. It involves thousands of processes, dozens of core materials, and precise processing and measurement equipment.

What supports this precise world, where no margin for error is allowed, isn’t a giant corporation but surprisingly ‘small yet specialized’ materials, parts, and equipment (MPE) companies.

These MPE companies are mostly clustered around semiconductor production hubs.

Prototypes need to be tested dozens of times, and feedback must be incorporated. If each process run takes more than a day round trip, it’s enough to fall behind in competition.

That’s why companies producing chemical materials, optical components, deposition equipment, etching equipment, and measurement systems nestle near semiconductor factories.

It’s not just a location strategy but an essential element for both ‘speed and quality.’

In that context, Ahsung’s interference has been a big help to me.

‘I was planning to take more time to build the infrastructure, but now I can expedite the timeline.’

That’s why I came all the way to Ochang to visit Radian Solutions.

And why I’m collaborating with Busan Optic to develop the extreme ultraviolet mirror.

It’s all part of the same context.

…

Breaking the silence in the meeting room, I spoke up.

“Representative Jo, I’d like to make a proposal.”

Representative Jo Kang-seong’s eyes flickered with tension, but I continued unabated.

“We’ll invest 50 billion won in Radian Solutions.”

Whoaaaaa—!

Exclamations erupted from all sides.

“Is that really true? Thank you so much.”

Despite it being just a proposal, Representative Jo immediately bowed and expressed his gratitude.

‘Brother, Radian Solutions has been struggling with funding issues lately,’ Seong-hwan whispered, filling me in on their financial situation.

Come to think of it, even before the regression, I remembered Ahsung taking over a nearly bankrupt company as a subsidiary.

“And… we’ll help resolve any outstanding issues within a month and get mass production up and running.”

“What?”

This time, he looked bewildered, his eyes widening.

Offering a 50 billion won investment was surprising enough, but solving unforeseen problems too? It was a natural reaction.

“You mean you can really solve the issues you mentioned earlier? We’ve been unable to resolve them for over six months…”

In fact, the claim that we could start mass production after another year or two of R&D was more of a stretch to secure potential investment.

“But I have a condition.”

“A condition?”

“Representative Jo will retain management control, but my condition is to establish a joint venture with a 50-50 equity split between us.”

My declaration-like statement amplified the murmurs around the room.

Even if Representative Jo didn’t know, it was an unparalleled opportunity for the Radian Solutions employees attending the meeting.

It was a chance for employees of a mere small-scale company to become part of Dojin, one of South Korea’s top companies.

All eyes turned to Representative Jo.

“If you need more time, you can answer later.”

Despite being given time, Representative Jo remained lost in thought. Soon, he looked up and met my gaze.

“If I accept the proposal, can you really resolve the FM polymer thermal stability and CMP process compatibility issues? Within a month?”

I curled the corners of my mouth upward.

“Once you sign the contract, you’ll see zirconium oxide-formaldehyde shipments starting next month.”

I planned to make sure of it, if only to put Samwoo Chemical and Chairman Cheon Ho-tae in their place.

“Then, I’ll do it!”

“You’ll establish the joint venture?”

“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”

I firmly shook the hand Representative Jo extended.

＊＊＊

“Are you really going into production right now?”

Representative Jo tried to hold me back, looking flustered as I rolled up my sleeves.

“As Executive Director Jo Seong-hwan mentioned earlier, we urgently need zirconium oxide-formaldehyde.”

“Even so… the ink on the contract isn’t even dry yet… Let’s at least have a meal together first…”

I cut off Representative Jo’s words.

“We can have a meal after resolving the zirconium oxide-formaldehyde issue. I’m fine with it, so if you’re okay, let’s go right now.”

“…Alright.”

I seemed a bit too eager, and Representative Jo looked slightly burdened, but there was no reason for him to dislike it.

…

As we moved to the production area, semiconductor fabrication mini-chambers and sample equipment came into view.

Radian Solutions’ equipment wasn’t the latest, but it seemed sufficient for research purposes.

Representative Jo stepped forward to explain.

“This area tests the thermal stability after FM polymer deposition. The issue is here. We’ve confirmed that at temperatures above 380 degrees, the polymer layer slightly lifts or undergoes a transformation reaction, causing interface defects.”

They hadn’t pinpointed the exact cause yet.

Representative Jo zoomed in on a sample image to show the defect.

The defect he mentioned was finer than I thought, but it could be fatal in mass production.

In addition to the sample image, I meticulously examined the actual samples and process conditions.

‘It’s the same cause as before.’

Even before the regression, I had struggled with this issue for months. Surprisingly, the cause was close at hand.

“It seems you’ve been tracking the cause focusing only on thermal stability. I think your approach might be wrong.”

“…Wrong?”

I pointed to the pile of reagents stacked beside the chamber.

“The FM polymer you’re using now is polyformaldehyde-180, right?”

This material has excellent field resistance but a characteristic where the glass transition temperature drops sharply at high temperatures.

“As the temperature rises, the bond length in formaldehyde-180 increases, and some parts can even undergo oxidation reactions.”

“You mean this was the cause all along?”

I nodded at Representative Jo’s words and scanned the reagent shelves again.

“The thermal stability issue of the FM polymer isn’t just a material problem. It depends on how well you control the interface reaction.”

I took a bottle from the shelf and handed it to Representative Jo. The label read:

[TCAS-B3: Trichloroarylsilane-based Auxiliary Coupling Agent]

“This is… a coupling agent we tried using for silicon insulation layer interface stabilization, but we abandoned it because its reactivity was too weak…”

“That very weak reactivity is exactly what we need now.”

After looking around, I pointed to a whiteboard in the corner of the production area. The person in charge quickly brought it over to me.

I picked up a marker and drew a simple interface structure.

“The problem with PFM-180 isn’t that the molecular chains ‘lift’ at high temperatures. The issue is that the chemical bond with the substrate solidifies in an incomplete state.”

In other words, it appears bonded, but when heat above a certain level is applied, the interface naturally separates.

Hong Chung-ki, the senior executive, tilted his head in confusion.

“So, does TCAS-B3 strengthen the adhesive?”

“Precisely, it forms an ‘intermediate layer’ that induces a complete chemical bond without interfering with formaldehyde’s molecular chains.”

In simpler terms, it’s like laying down a non-slip pad.

At that moment, Representative Jo slapped his knee.

“Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Things close by are often the hardest to see.”

I smiled and continued.

“Change the application order. Deposit a thin layer of TCAS-B3 first, then apply formaldehyde. Cure it slowly at a temperature 20 degrees lower than before.”

With the perfect solution, Representative Jo’s face lit up instantly.

“That way… the transformation at high temperatures will be reduced, and initial structural stability will be secured.”

“Not only that, there’s another advantage. This will naturally correct the ‘uneven depth’ issue in the CMP process.”

TCAS-B3 absorbs the interface tension difference, helping achieve a uniform thickness during cutting.

The Radian Solutions developers listening in couldn’t contain their amazement.

“Wow, amazing.”

“I’ve heard rumors that Dojin’s Kang Tae-joon is a natural engineer, but this is next level.”

“You’ve identified the cause we’ve been searching for over six months in one go.”

“If we do it this way, it should definitely improve. Let’s make it quickly and see if it actually works.”

The developers, discussing among themselves, scattered in an instant. In less than 30 minutes, they brought the first test sample, just as I had instructed.

“It definitely looks different from the previous samples.”

The wafer taken out of the chamber had a thin gloss.

It looked like an ordinary semiconductor sample on the surface, but it was the first result of solving a problem Radian Solutions’ employees had been unable to crack for over six months.

“Let’s analyze it right away.”

As I spoke, the person in charge placed the sample in the equipment, and the analyzer began operating with a whirring sound.

Representative Jo and the Radian Solutions research team gathered on one side, nervously staring at the monitor.

Soon, the results appeared one by one.

Thermal stability: 416 degrees.
Leakage current: 39% reduction compared to baseline.
CMP process deviation: average of 2.7%.

“We did it!”

With the measurement technician’s shout, the meeting room erupted in cheers.

Whoaaaaaaa—!

“It’s solved this easily?”

“This is seriously amazing.”

“With these numbers, we can move straight to pilot mass production.”

The developers reacted positively, and I felt the same.

＊＊＊

Ahsung Group Chairman’s Office – Mujinwon

A serene reception room overlooking a tidy garden. Bamboo leaves rustled in the wind beyond the tiled roof and window frames.

Chairman Cheon Ho-tae slowly savored the aroma of an expensive-looking teacup. Before him sat his second son, Cheon Jun-seok, and Kim Seong-jae, the head of Strategic Planning.

“Is this your first report since taking over the semiconductor division?”

“Yes, Father… I mean, Chairman. Although formal audits and performance announcements are pending, I’ve prepared a summarized report.”

Cheon Jun-seok handed over the report, which Chairman Cheon accepted.

The first page of the thick report, adorned with subtle gold leaf, was headlined in bold letters:

“Last year, semiconductor sales reached approximately 120 trillion won. Both DRAM and NAND sectors saw significant growth compared to the previous year. Globally, we maintain the top market share in both DRAM and NAND.”

Chairman Cheon nodded with satisfaction.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked Cheon Jun-seok,

“How are things with the Dojin guys?”

“In terms of semiconductors alone, their sales and market share aren’t comparable to ours.”

A company that produces a few semiconductors for its own rifles couldn’t compare to the world’s top semiconductor company.

Kim Seong-jae added,

“And they’re probably in disarray right now.”

“Ah, yes. We did take some measures against them.”

“Right. The German company developing equipment with Dojin has agreed to a new project with us. We’ve also notified them of the discontinuation of hafnium oxide supplies, which are essential for semiconductor production.”

Chairman Cheon Ho-tae burst into loud laughter, something he hadn’t done in a while.

“Kwahaha, I should’ve seen Kang Tae-joon’s face myself.”

“He’ll likely regret entering the semiconductor business soon and be forced to withdraw due to liquidity issues.”

The atmosphere in Chairman Cheon Ho-tae’s office was cheerful, but it didn’t last long.

Zzzzzz—.

A sudden phone vibration.

Kim Seong-jae hesitated before checking the message. His face turned pale in an instant.