OSAKA -- Japanese air conditioning giant Daikin Industries has developed a way to produce a crucial chipmaking chemical using raw materials from Mexico, creating an opportunity to reduce reliance on China.
Hydrofluoric acid is used in the etching process for semiconductors, and the compound is also the main ingredient for hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants. Japan imports over 90% of the material for hydrofluoric acid from China.
