China has begun commercial-scale production of 6N-grade high-purity hydrogen fluoride, an important chemical used in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
The material is produced by Binzhou Group, a company based in Binzhou, Shandong Province. The launch marks a major step in expanding China’s domestic supply of critical chipmaking materials.
Hydrogen fluoride plays an essential role in semiconductor production because it is used to clean and etch silicon wafers. These processes help create the tiny electronic circuits found inside computer chips. Higher purity levels reduce contamination and improve manufacturing quality.
Critical Material Secured
According to information shared through Binzhou’s official WeChat account, the company has achieved commercial production of 6N-grade hydrogen fluoride. The material has a purity level of 99.9999 percent, making it suitable for advanced semiconductor manufacturing. It is mainly required for chip production processes at 28 nanometers and below.
The semiconductor industry measures chemical purity using “N” grades, where each additional number represents fewer impurities. A 6N product contains far fewer unwanted particles than a 5N product. Even these very small differences matter during chip production.
For many years, China mainly produced hydrogen fluoride at the 5N level, with a purity of 99.999 percent. The higher 6N-grade material remained largely supplied by overseas manufacturers. This dependence made the material one of several key components viewed as supply chain bottlenecks for China’s semiconductor sector.
6N-Grade Ends Dependence
Company officials said controlling impurities was one of the biggest technical challenges during development. Even tiny amounts of unwanted metals can interfere with semiconductor manufacturing. This directly affects the number of working chips produced from each wafer.
Liu Teng, general manager of Binzhou Group’s special chemicals division, explained the importance of higher purity.
He said people should not underestimate the extra “9” in the purity level because even a few parts per billion of additional metal impurities can significantly reduce chip yields. His comments highlighted why manufacturers demand extremely pure chemicals.
Binzhou Group said its product keeps critical metal-ion impurities below one part per billion. The company stated that these performance indicators meet internationally recognized standards. Such purity allows the material to meet the requirements of advanced semiconductor production lines.
READ ALSO: China Unveils AI-Powered Space Computing Network to Process Satellite Data Before Earth
Building Complete Supply
The company also announced that it has completed a cylinder filling line capable of producing 50 tons of high-purity hydrogen fluoride each year. On July 17, Shandong authorities granted the company the required cylinder filling license. This approval allows Binzhou Group to manufacture, fill, and sell the chemical commercially.
The company said the project now covers the full production chain from laboratory research to large-scale manufacturing. It includes research, production, quality testing, filling, storage, and transportation. Managing every stage helps reduce the risk of contamination after production.
Binzhou Group explained that the achievement resulted from improvements across multiple production processes instead of a single technical advance. Engineers developed methods to maintain purity throughout manufacturing and transportation. Preventing secondary contamination remained one of the project’s main objectives.
Industry Looks Ahead
Industry observers said domestic production of 6N hydrogen fluoride will strengthen supply for China’s semiconductor manufacturers. A stable local source reduces dependence on imported materials for advanced production lines. It also supports manufacturers working on chips built using 28nm and more advanced process technologies.
Hydrogen fluoride is often described as one of the most important chemicals used during semiconductor manufacturing because it removes unwanted material with great precision. Without highly pure chemicals, advanced chip production becomes more difficult and less efficient. Reliable supplies therefore remain essential for modern semiconductor factories.
The commercial launch represents another step in China’s effort to strengthen its semiconductor supply chain through local production of critical materials. However, domestic chipmakers are expected to gain more reliable access to essential chemicals. Continued investment in high-purity materials is likely to play an important role in supporting future semiconductor production.
