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55 min ago 2 min read
US-based trade group the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) has launched a new library of 14 standards and technical publications covering the safe handling, storage and use of gases in semiconductor manufacturing.
The Semiconductor Standards Library brings together guidance relevant to specialty gases, electronic gases and cryogenic fluids, targeting semiconductor manufacturers, industrial gas suppliers, equipment manufacturers, engineers and safety professionals.
The collection includes guidance covering gases such as silane, ammonia, nitrogen trifluoride and high-purity helium, which are used in processes supporting the production of advanced semiconductors.
Helium, for example, is used to provide temperature control during high-temperature semiconductor processes, including etching and deposition, while other gases support deposition, cleaning and etching operations.
CGA said the library was designed to make relevant technical guidance more accessible as semiconductor technologies advance and manufacturing capacity expands.
The launch comes as semiconductor manufacturing expands to meet demand from AI, data centres and other advanced technologies.
At gasworld’s Helium Super Summit in Houston in earlier this month, Michael Corbett, Managing Partner at Linx Consulting, representing semiconductor industry association SEMI, projected that from the semiconductor sector could rise from an estimated 1.8 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in 2026 to around 2.2 Bcf in 2028, potentially reaching 3 Bcf after 2030.
Corbett also highlighted plans for 108 new semiconductor fabrication projects to come online by 2028, with around 30 additional fabrication plants needed by 2030.
Supply security has also come into focus following disruption to global helium production and exports amid the conflict involving Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
At the summit, Rich Brook, helium and industrial gas consultant at Garrison Ventures, warned that the global helium market could face a of 8 to 10% if the disruption persists, even with withdrawals from storage caverns. The deficit could widen to around 20% if cavern inventories are depleted.
The US Department of Energy designated helium a earlier this week, citing its importance to semiconductor manufacturing and vulnerabilities in the supply chain.
