Wacker Chemie AG, a leading chemical company, has successfully completed the expansion of its hyperpure hydrogen chloride production at its Burghausen site in Germany.
The commissioning of the new facility in mid-July has resulted in a significant increase in overall production. The additional production volumes cater to buyers from the semiconductor industry, where ultrapure hydrogen chloride serves as a crucial etching and cleaning agent. The investment costs for this expansion project amount to several million euros, reinforcing the company’s specialty chemicals portfolio for the semiconductor sector.
Hydrogen chloride (HCl) finds versatile applications in the chemical industry, acting as a vital reaction gas to convert low-energy raw materials into reactive intermediates for downstream production processes. WACKER, for instance, utilizes HCl in the manufacturing of silicones, pyrogenic silica, and polysilicon, which are essential components for the solar and semiconductor industries.
In the semiconductor industry, the colorless and water-soluble gas plays a critical role as a processing aid. It is employed in etching hyperpure silicon wafers and cleaning vital plant components. However, the quality requirements for these processes are exceptionally high to prevent any contamination. WACKER Executive Board member Christian Kirsten points out that many competitors have withdrawn from hydrogen chloride production due to cost and quality concerns, leading to a scarcity of ultrapure HCl in the market.
As one of the few companies in Europe capable of delivering HCl of the required quality and quantity, WACKER took the initiative to invest tens of millions of euros in the expansion and infrastructure at its Burghausen site. The recent expansion has equipped the company to meet the growing demand for semiconductor components, especially as megatrends like increased chip demand continue to shape the industry.
WACKER’s hydrogen chloride is derived from rock salt extracted from its own mine in Stetten, Germany. The composition and purity of this salt make it highly suitable for production purposes. Compared to the benchmark of 99.9979% purity for HCl suitable for semiconductors, WACKER’s hydrogen chloride boasts an impressive purity level of 99.9995%, making it one of the purest available in the market. This exceptional quality ensures that it meets the stringent requirements of the chip industry and sets a high standard for semiconductor manufacturing.
In addition to hydrogen chloride, WACKER produces an array of other specialty chemicals essential for the semiconductor industry. The product portfolio includes precursors for coating hyperpure silicon wafers and pyrogenic silica, a crucial grinding agent for CMP slurries. The key buyers for these specialty chemicals are international gas suppliers that provide processing aids and other essential materials to semiconductor companies.
With the expansion of its hyperpure hydrogen chloride production and a commitment to producing high-quality specialty chemicals, WACKER is positioning itself at the forefront of the semiconductor industry. As semiconductor elements drive various megatrends and the demand for chips continues to soar, the need for high-quality processing aids such as ultrapure hydrogen chloride will witness significant growth. By expanding its capacity, WACKER aims to play a pivotal role in supporting the semiconductor sector’s expansion and innovation.
