三星预将韩国蚀刻纳入生产线

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.

三星电子(Samsung Electronics)已将新的蚀刻气体投入其半导体生产线，以期实现关键材料的多重采购，因为该公司严重依赖日本制造商。

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.

日本政府将韩国排除在优先出口目的地的“白色名单”之外。此前，日本收紧了对三种关键半导体和显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."

一位业内人士对《亚洲时报》表示：“该公司已经开始使用一些替代日本产品的工艺。”

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.

蚀刻气体用于蚀刻过程中，除半导体和显示板上的电路外，切断不必要的部件。它有液态和气态两种形式，三星已经开始使用液态版本。

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

一位业内人士表示：“三星极有可能将韩国产蚀刻气投入生产线。”

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)和韩国存储芯片制造商sk hynix测试了非日本制造的蚀刻气体，以取代日本产品。据业内人士表示，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.

另一位业内人士表示:“三星电子(Samsung Electronics)和海力士(Hynix)一直在测试几乎所有蚀刻气体，无论它们来自何方。”“我理解人们对蚀刻气体供应的担忧，但事实上，有许多替代品。”

"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."

“芯片制造商必须调整制造工艺以利用新的蚀刻气体，同时保持产品的产量和质量，因此他们继续依赖日本材料。”

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.

显示行业也计划用韩国蚀刻气来取代日本的蚀刻气。据业内人士透露，LG Display已经完成了对韩国蚀刻气体的测试，并计划很快将其投入生产过程，而三星Display仍在进行测试。

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.

在显示器生产中，腐蚀气体主要用于清洗，少量也用于蚀刻。业内人士表示，与半导体蚀刻工艺一样，显示蚀刻需要超高纯度蚀刻气体，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规定，要求日本芯片和显示器材料制造商在向韩国出口蚀刻气体、用于显示器的氟化物聚酰亚胺以及用于制造半导体衬底的EUV(紫外线)工艺的光刻胶时，必须获得日本政府的单独批准。

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

据业内人士透露，LG显示器不使用日本氟聚酰亚胺，而三星显示器正计划用韩国产品取代它。

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.

日本政府自从加强了对三种关键材料的出口管制以来，已经两次批准向韩国出口EUV光刻胶，一次批准向韩国出口蚀刻气。

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

尽管日本政府采取了这种安抚态度，但业内专家预计，由于不确定性依然存在，韩国企业的多元化采购行动将继续下去。