Tungsten Hexafluoride Price Surge Highlights Critical Need for Reliable Gas Storage; NETC's Specially Treated Aluminum Alloy Cylinders Offer Robust Solution
October 28 – According to South Korean media reports, citing China's restrictions on rare earth exports causing a spike in tungsten prices, South Korean specialty gas producers have notified domestic chip manufacturers of significant price increases for tungsten hexafluoride (WF6) next year.
Industry sources indicated that gas producers including SK Specialty, Foosung, and Kanto Denka Korea have informed Samsung, SK Hynix, DB Hitek, and Magnachip of planned WF6 price hikes between 70% and 90% for the coming year. This adjustment follows tungsten prices doubling over the past five months, creating substantial cost pressures for gas manufacturers.
Japanese gas suppliers have also implemented price increases of up to 90%, further exacerbated by unfavorable exchange rate conditions.
Chip manufacturers, having anticipated tungsten price increases, have shown some willingness to absorb the WF6 cost adjustments.
WF6 serves as a critical gas in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes during chip manufacturing, depositing tungsten layers onto wafers. In semiconductor production, electrical signals form numerous channels on silicon wafers, covered by insulating layers and connected to other metal layers. Tungsten fills the connecting pores, with WF6 converting to metallic tungsten through reactions with plasma and hydrogen within deposition chamber cavities.
Tungsten finds extensive application in logic chips, DRAM, and structurally complex 3D NAND manufacturing.
Tungsten ore undergoes purification to produce tungsten trioxide, further processed into ammonium paratungstate (APT) as a powder precursor for metallic tungsten or tungsten composites. Gas producers like SK Specialty and Foosung react APT with fluorinating gases to produce WF6 gas.
China dominates global tungsten mining and processing, accounting for over 80% of production. Since February, China's export licensing policies for tungsten and other "strategic minerals" have triggered dramatic price increases. According to the China Tungsten Industry Association, by early September, tungsten concentrate prices had surged 95% since the beginning of the year to 280,000 yuan per ton, while APT prices increased over 90% to 400,000 yuan per ton during the same period.
While the Chinese government describes these measures as environmental protection and resource conservation initiatives, analysts perceive them as responses to US restrictions on advanced chip manufacturing equipment and semiconductor exports. Sources indicate the WF6 price increases represent structural supply chain changes rather than temporary disruptions, potentially generating short-term benefits for certain gas producers.
The global chip industry consumes approximately 7,000 to 8,000 tons of WF6 annually. Production capacities include SK Specialty's 2,000 tons, Foosung's 900 tons in South Korea; Kanto Denka's 1,400 tons in Japan; and China State Shipbuilding Corporation's 2,200 tons.
NETC's Specially Treated Aluminum Alloy Cylinders: Ensuring Safety and Purity in Electronic Specialty Gas Storage and Transportation
Against this backdrop of supply chain volatility and rising costs, ensuring the safe, efficient, and contamination-free storage and transportation of high-value electronic specialty gases like WF6 becomes paramount. NETC's specially treated internal surface aluminum alloy gas cylinders emerge as the optimal solution, specifically engineered to address the unique challenges posed by corrosive and ultra-high-purity gases.
Superior Corrosion Resistance for Demanding Applications
NETC's aluminum alloy gas cylinders undergo advanced internal surface treatments that create a highly inert and robust barrier. This specialized processing enables the cylinders to easily withstand the corrosive nature of aggressive electronic specialty gases like tungsten hexafluoride (WF6), preventing internal degradation and ensuring gas purity throughout the container's lifecycle. Unlike untreated metals that may react with or be corroded by such gases, leading to contamination and potential safety hazards, NETC's cylinders maintain structural integrity and purity assurance.
Combining Key Advantages for Maximum Performance
Beyond exceptional corrosion resistance, NETC's cylinders integrate several critical features essential for electronic gas handling:
Ultra-High Purity Compatibility: The exceptionally smooth, specially treated internal surface minimizes particulate generation and adsorption sites, crucial for maintaining the stringent purity levels required in semiconductor fabrication.
Lightweight yet High-Strength: The inherent strength-to-weight ratio of aluminum alloy reduces transportation costs and improves handling efficiency without compromising the ability to withstand high filling pressures, typically up to 150-200 Bar or more, as required for efficient WF6 logistics.
Long-Term Reliability and Safety: The natural formation of a stable oxide layer on the treated aluminum surface, combined with the material's resistance to intergranular corrosion, ensures long-term performance and safety, even under repeated filling and emptying cycles.
A Trusted Partner for the Global Gas and Semiconductor Industries
NETC's commitment to quality is demonstrated through compliance with international standards such as DOT 3AL and CE ISO 7866. Our comprehensive product range, including Industrial aluminum cylinders and Special treatment aluminum cylinders, is designed to meet the evolving needs of the electronics sector.
In the current climate of supply chain uncertainty and rising input costs for critical materials like WF6, maximizing the efficiency, safety, and reliability of the entire gas delivery system is more important than ever,NETC specially treated aluminum alloy gas cylinders provide gas producers and semiconductor manufacturers with a dependable solution that protects their valuable gas investments, ensures process integrity, and supports the stable operation of the global chip supply chain. NETC provide not just a container, but a guaranteed, high-integrity storage and transportation environment.
