三星預(yù)將韓國蝕刻納入生產(chǎn)線

Samsung Electronics has put new etching gas into its semiconductor production line in a move towards multiple sourcing of critical materials as the company has heavily relied on Japanese makers.

三星電子(Samsung Electronics)已將新的蝕刻氣體投入其半導(dǎo)體生產(chǎn)線，以期實(shí)現(xiàn)關(guān)鍵材料的多重采購，因?yàn)樵摴緡?yán)重依賴日本制造商。

Tokyo excluded South Korea from a "white list" of preferential export destinations following tightened export regulations on three key semiconductor and display materials, which have been caught up in a looming trade war between the two countries.

日本政府將韓國排除在優(yōu)先出口目的地的“白色名單”之外。此前，日本收緊了對三種關(guān)鍵半導(dǎo)體和顯示器材料的出口管制。

An industry source told Asia Times: "The company has begun using substitutes for some of the processes that used Japanese products."

一位業(yè)內(nèi)人士對《亞洲時(shí)報(bào)》表示：“該公司已經(jīng)開始使用一些替代日本產(chǎn)品的工藝。”

Etching gas is used in the etching process that cuts off unnecessary parts except for circuits on semiconductors and display panels. It comes in liquid and gas form and Samsung has started to utilize the liquid version.

蝕刻氣體用于蝕刻過程中，除半導(dǎo)體和顯示板上的電路外，切斷不必要的部件。它有液態(tài)和氣態(tài)兩種形式，三星已經(jīng)開始使用液態(tài)版本。

An industry insider said: "It is highly likely that Samsung put Korean-made etching gas into the production line."

一位業(yè)內(nèi)人士表示：“三星極有可能將韓國產(chǎn)蝕刻氣投入生產(chǎn)線。”

Samsung and South Korean memory chip maker SK Hynix have tested non-Japanese-made etching gas to replace Japanese products. SK Hynix has yet to inject alternatives, according to industry insiders.

三星(samsung)和韓國存儲芯片制造商sk hynix測試了非日本制造的蝕刻氣體，以取代日本產(chǎn)品。據(jù)業(yè)內(nèi)人士表示，SK海力士尚未注入替代方案。

"Samsung Electronics and Hynix have been testing almost all etching gas regardless of their origin," another industry source said. "I understand that there are concerns about the supply of etching gas, but in fact, there are many substitutes.

另一位業(yè)內(nèi)人士表示:“三星電子(Samsung Electronics)和海力士(Hynix)一直在測試幾乎所有蝕刻氣體，無論它們來自何方。”“我理解人們對蝕刻氣體供應(yīng)的擔(dān)憂，但事實(shí)上，有許多替代品。”

"Chipmakers have to fine-tune their manufacturing processes to utilize new etching gas while maintaining yields and quality of products, So they continued to rely on Japanese materials."

“芯片制造商必須調(diào)整制造工藝以利用新的蝕刻氣體，同時(shí)保持產(chǎn)品的產(chǎn)量和質(zhì)量，因此他們繼續(xù)依賴日本材料。”

Display industries also plan to use Korean etching gas to replace the Japanese one. According to industry sources, LG Display has finished testing Korean etching gas and plans to put it into the production process soon, while Samsung Display is still testing it.

顯示行業(yè)也計(jì)劃用韓國蝕刻氣來取代日本的蝕刻氣。據(jù)業(yè)內(nèi)人士透露，LG Display已經(jīng)完成了對韓國蝕刻氣體的測試，并計(jì)劃很快將其投入生產(chǎn)過程，而三星Display仍在進(jìn)行測試。

In display production, the etching gas is mainly used for cleaning, while small amounts are also used for etching. As with the semiconductor etching process, display etching requires ultra-high purity etching gas, but not much of it is needed, according to industry insiders.

在顯示器生產(chǎn)中，腐蝕氣體主要用于清洗，少量也用于蝕刻。業(yè)內(nèi)人士表示，與半導(dǎo)體蝕刻工藝一樣，顯示蝕刻需要超高純度蝕刻氣體，但不需要太多。

Export restrictions by Tokyo require Japanese chip and display material manufacturers to obtain individual approval from the Japanese government when they export to Korea etching gas, fluoride polyimide, which is used in displays, and photoresist, which is used in the EUV (extreme ultraviolet) process to fabricate semiconductor substrates.

日本政府的出口限制規(guī)定，要求日本芯片和顯示器材料制造商在向韓國出口蝕刻氣體、用于顯示器的氟化物聚酰亞胺以及用于制造半導(dǎo)體襯底的EUV(紫外線)工藝的光刻膠時(shí)，必須獲得日本政府的單獨(dú)批準(zhǔn)。

According to industry sources, LG Display does not use Japanese fluorine polyimide, while Samsung Display is planning to replace it with Korean products.

據(jù)業(yè)內(nèi)人士透露，LG顯示器不使用日本氟聚酰亞胺，而三星顯示器正計(jì)劃用韓國產(chǎn)品取代它。

The Japanese government has approved the export of EUV photoresist to South Korea two times and etching gas once since it tightened export controls of three key materials.

日本政府自從加強(qiáng)了對三種關(guān)鍵材料的出口管制以來，已經(jīng)兩次批準(zhǔn)向韓國出口EUV光刻膠，一次批準(zhǔn)向韓國出口蝕刻氣。

Despite this pacificatory attitude of Tokyo, industry experts predict that South Korean firms' move for multiple sourcing will continue as they feel uncertainties remain.

盡管日本政府采取了這種安撫態(tài)度，但業(yè)內(nèi)專家預(yù)計(jì)，由于不確定性依然存在，韓國企業(yè)的多元化采購行動將繼續(xù)下去。