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Pressure sensors, including pressure transducers and pressure transmitters, are a critical aspect of semiconductor manufacturing. These instruments measure pressure to control the flow and distribution of ultrahigh purity (UHP) gases and liquids safely and effectively throughout the production process. In my last article about transducers for semiconductor UHP gas applications, I explained how Ashcroft and our parent company Nagano Keiki Co. LTD, have been providing pressure and temperature instrumentation to semiconductor manufacturing customers globally for decades. This piece will provide more insight into the liquid process of semiconductor manufacturing and review the pressure monitoring features to look for in instruments that are designed to perform well in these complex processes. When you are done reading, I hope you will have a better understanding of the use of UHP fluids in semiconductor applications and the solutions employed to accurately measure pressure. You will also find related articles and guides that you can use as references for this evolving topic.

If you work in semiconductor manufacturing, you understand that the process requires highly specialized equipment and instruments that can handle harsh applications involving corrosive gases and chemicals. Transducers, for example, are critical for measuring pressure throughout the production process to control the flow and distribution of ultra-high purity (UHP) gases safely and effectively. However, not all transducers can handle such challenging conditions. That’s why selecting the right one for your operation is a critical step in ensuring the successful creation of your product. Ashcroft and our parent company Nagano Keiki Co. LTD, have a long and proven track record of supplying pressure and temperature instrumentation to semiconductor manufacturing customers worldwide. This article will share our insights into semiconductor UHP gas processes and the unique challenges for pressure measurement instrumentation used in semiconductor applications. It will also review the best types of pressure transducers that are designed for these complex processes.

Pressure transducers can be used in many challenging environments where they may be exposed to extreme temperatures but are expected to operate reliably and predictably. These challenging temperature exposures can come from a few sources such as the surrounding environment (ambient temperature), radiation (sunlight), or the temperature of the process media being measured (media temperature).