Ultra-high purity (UHP) is a standard that must be met in all aspects, from the gas and liquid itself to the components that handle ultra high purity gases and liquids. UHP is required for applications in industries such as semiconductors, micro-electronics, chemicals & oil, as well as food and beverage processing and packaging. UHP gases and liquids require UHP components in the equipment that handles and processes those gases and liquids. UHP standard requires an electropolished internal surface finish of 10 µin. / 0.25 µm Ra max and components are cleaned and packaged in accordance with required specifications. But what exactly is ultra-high purity, and why is it important? Read on for details.
What Is a UHP Gas or Liquid?
Ultra high purity refers to gases with specific impurities held to levels less than 0.1 parts per million (ppm). For example, individual gases like oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, and helium are considered to be ultra-pure.
Liquids, such as solvents, can also meet this standard. High purity solvents are synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) — meaning they’re commercially made organic compounds. This category includes products like pesticides, herbicides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and others used in industrial applications.
To ensure gases and liquids maintain ultra high purity, any process handling components that come into contact with the gases and liquids must also be UHP. The UHP standard requires an electropolished internal surface finish of 10 µin. / 0.25 µm Ra max. Finished components are then cleaned and packaged in accordance with required specifications. ChemTec’s LPH Series of flow monitors and EFV Series of excess flow valves are offered with UHP standards.
Industries with applications requiring Ultra High Purity standards include:
- Semiconductor manufacturing processes
- Pharma/Biopharmaceutical processes
- Food and beverage processing/packaging
- Specialty gas & chemical processes
ChemTec’s UHP products can be found in custom process skids and gas delivery systems in these industry applications.
Semiconductor Industry
Semiconductor manufacturing devices require ultra-pure water in their processes because any impurities will destroy batches of wafers being produced. Similarly, in the etching process of semiconductor manufacturing, the use of ultra high purity gas or chemicals is crucial to ensuring the removal of any debris created as a byproduct during the manufacturing process.
Food & Beverage Industry
Food packaging with nitrogen preserves quality, slows down spoilage, and extends the products’ shelf life. Nitrogen also cushions and protects delicate foods inside the package from being crushed during handling. High purity nitrogen gas is defined as gaseous nitrogen with concentrations above 99.998% and is considered to be a high purity fraction. High purity nitrogen gas can be graded in different ways by different manufacturers however they are mostly considered to be “zero grade” fractions.
Pharma/Biopharm
Purity is crucial at every level in the pharmaceutical industry. Impurities in pharmaceutical gases (water vapor or foreign contaminants) can cause unwanted results and could ultimately destroy the end product. UHP gases are not only used during the processing phase but are also used in the packaging process. Contaminated gas in any phase of processing will ruin the end product.
Learn More About ChemTec Ultra High Purity Products
ChemTec’s LPH Series of flow monitors and EFV Series of excess flow valves are offered with UHP standards. These standards require our components to have an electropolished internal surface finish of 10 µin. / 0.25 µm Ra max and components are cleaned and packaged in accordance with required specifications. To find out how ChemTec’s Ultra High Purity rated products can be used in your day-to-day manufacturing processes, submit an application inquiry today. We’ll contact you promptly to discuss your challenges and our solutions.
