The fragile semiconductor supply chain has one more thing to worry about.
Chips have been relatively scarce throughout the pandemic, with Covid-19 periodically triggering plant shutdowns, and demand soaring along with sales of PCs, smartphones, electric vehicles, and other electronic goods. The market has recently been worried about a shortage of neon and other rare gases used in chipmaking, triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This time, the issue involves a class of chemical called PFAS, an acronym for “perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.” Semiconductor manufacturers use PFAS as coolants in the etching process, a crucial step in chip production.
