The same disinfectants you use to disinfect wounds or surfaces can also be used to clean microchips, only at a higher purity level. As demand for U.S.-made semiconductors continues to grow and the purity requirements for the latest chips become more stringent, in 2027 we will expand our isopropyl alcohol (IPA) product portfolio and begin producing ultra-pure IPA at up to 99.999% purity in Baton Rouge. Our entire IPA supply chain, from raw materials to finished product synthesis, will be located in the United States, facilitating the production of high-purity IPA and strengthening our domestic supply chain to support the growth of the American industry.
       While 99.9% pure IPA is ideal for use in hand sanitizers and household cleaners, next-generation semiconductors require 99.999% pure IPA to avoid damaging delicate microchips. As chip sizes continue to shrink (sometimes as small as 2 nanometers, meaning there can be 150,000 of them in a single grain of salt), higher purity IPA becomes critical. These chip nodes, or information hubs, squeezed into small devices require ultra-pure IPA to dry the wafer surface, reduce impurities, and prevent damage. Cutting-edge chip makers use this high-purity IPA to minimize defects in their sensitive circuits.
       From household chemicals to high tech, we have revolutionized isopropyl alcohol (IPA) production in many ways over the past century. We began commercial production of IPA in 1920 and have been serving semiconductor applications since 1992. During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, we were the largest manufacturer of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for hand sanitizer in the United States.
       Producing isopropyl alcohol (IPA) with purity up to 99.999% is the next step in our evolution with the market. The semiconductor chip industry requires a reliable domestic supply of ultra-pure isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and we are committed to providing that supply. To that end, we are upgrading our Baton Rouge facility, the world’s largest isopropyl alcohol plant1, to meet this growing demand by 2027. Our experience and expertise at our Baton Rouge facility allows us to provide an end-to-end supply chain of U.S.-sourced isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to U.S. chipmakers.
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