I don't think we understand the level of damage completely yet. It remains to be seen how this will affect the semi supply chain if there is short supply of HPQ. We have not seen anything like this before.
@Vikram—whoa! Future seer! Query: if the quartz mining is severely impacted, how do you think this will impact global markets? Will prices for semiconductors skyrocket because of lack of resources to make them or do you think prices will plummet because of lack of supply of quartz and no production?
From what I’ve seen, the factory is intact. Transportation systems are hit. It all comes down to how often crucibles are replaced, and how much inventory there is. Neither pieces of info are publicly available. We will have to see how this plays out.
Interesting and fun article! Perhaps we need to find a cheap method to purify quartz haha, you know, like a Russian Matryoshka.
One question if I may. I had an impression that CZ method could not make high-purity silicon, but FZ method can. I'm surprised to hear you saying that CZ method can make "eleven 9s". Was I always misunderstanding something?
Oh never mind, I did a bit more research and realized that CZ or FZ methods are after purification, as you clearly stated in your article! Great that I'm learning :).
Did you read Ed Conway's Material World recently, per chance? It brings up much of the same comments on Taiwan's vulnerability to earthquakes, and talks at some length about the Spruce Pine facility and the chance the supply of quartz could be ruined.
Damn, you called it Vik!
What do you make of the once in 1000 years flood that Spruce Pine was hit with as a result of hurricane Helene?
I don't think we understand the level of damage completely yet. It remains to be seen how this will affect the semi supply chain if there is short supply of HPQ. We have not seen anything like this before.
@Vikram—whoa! Future seer! Query: if the quartz mining is severely impacted, how do you think this will impact global markets? Will prices for semiconductors skyrocket because of lack of resources to make them or do you think prices will plummet because of lack of supply of quartz and no production?
From what I’ve seen, the factory is intact. Transportation systems are hit. It all comes down to how often crucibles are replaced, and how much inventory there is. Neither pieces of info are publicly available. We will have to see how this plays out.
I came here to say this!
Same!
Interesting and fun article! Perhaps we need to find a cheap method to purify quartz haha, you know, like a Russian Matryoshka.
One question if I may. I had an impression that CZ method could not make high-purity silicon, but FZ method can. I'm surprised to hear you saying that CZ method can make "eleven 9s". Was I always misunderstanding something?
Oh never mind, I did a bit more research and realized that CZ or FZ methods are after purification, as you clearly stated in your article! Great that I'm learning :).
Yup! Glad you liked it. We need a source of lab grown high purity quartz. Stat!
Did you read Ed Conway's Material World recently, per chance? It brings up much of the same comments on Taiwan's vulnerability to earthquakes, and talks at some length about the Spruce Pine facility and the chance the supply of quartz could be ruined.
No I haven’t read that but I looked it up and seems interesting. Thanks for telling me about it, I think I’ll pick it up.