In order to completely get rid of Japan's restrictions, LG has achieved 100% localization of hydrogen fluoride production

Due to the trade dispute between Japan and South Korea, the Japanese government strengthened export controls on hydrogen fluoride, photoresists and fluorinated polyimide to South Korea on July 4, prompting South Korean companies to actively seek to reduce their dependence on Japanese technology.

Although Japan later approved the export of some gaseous hydrogen fluoride, there is no exception for the export of liquid hydrogen fluoride. Earlier on September 2, it was reported that LGD had completed the testing of hydrogen fluoride produced in South Korea. On the 8th, the company confirmed that it would achieve 100% domestic raw material production substitution in South Korea in the future. 

However, LGD officials recently said that the liquid hydrogen fluoride used in panel production has been completely converted to domestic products (South Korea). This also means that LGD's panel factories have completed the use of domestic hydrogen fluoride materials to replace Japanese imports, and 100% are made in South Korea.

High-purity electronic-grade hydrogen fluoride is a type of fluorine fine chemical. In the semiconductor manufacturing process, it is mainly used to remove unnecessary chemicals adhering to the chemical vapor deposition furnace after film deposition, plasma etching, etching fine grooves or holes after photoresist patterning, etc. It is a very important raw material in semiconductor production, and Japanese companies occupy a major share in this field.

Compared with LG, Samsung and SK Hynix are also actively replacing Japanese materials. However, their main products are semiconductor chips, and they are more dependent on Japanese hydrogen fluoride and two other materials, photoresist and fluorinated polyimide, than LG, so replacement is not so easy.

Samsung Display, the panel business of Samsung, had also expected to complete the testing of domestically produced high-purity hydrogen fluoride in September, and it is likely to be used in mass production of panels immediately after the final testing is completed.

Previously, Samsung Display used hydrogen fluoride from Japanese and South Korean companies, but before Japan imposed sanctions, the company had continued to conduct localization trials of hydrogen fluoride. According to Samsung Display's previous test results, no critical problems have been found in the tests, and local products are likely to be used in mass production immediately after the final test.

In addition, SK Hynix also introduced Korean-made hydrogen fluoride into the production process for testing.