19 January 2012

Albemarle launches Electronic Materials business unit

Specialty chemical manufacturer Albemarle Corp of Baton Rouge, LA, USA has announced the formation of its Electronic Materials business unit. The new business unit, which is a subgroup of Albemarle’s Performance Catalyst Solutions (PCS) division (formerly the Polyolefin and Chemical Catalyst division until November 2011), provides electronic-grade metal organics to the LED, compound semiconductor, and solar panel markets.

“As a producer of metal organics for over half a century, Albemarle has built a solid reputation on chemical expertise and experience,” says Amy Motto, VP of Albemarle’s PCS division. “With the launch of our Electronic Materials business unit, Albemarle will bring the same high level of quality and competence to the LED and solar markets,” she adds.

Albemarle’s Electronic Materials business has already begun selling commercial quantities of ultra-high-purity trimethylgallium (TMG) and triethylgallium (TEG) under its new PureGrowth brand name. The portfolio will be expanded to include ultra-high-purity trimethylaluminum (TMA) by early 2012 and trimethyl indium (TMI) by mid 2012, likewise for use in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) processing (e.g. in the manufacturing of LED chips for applications such as backlighting in displays and light bulbs).

The Electronic Materials business is built upon Albemarle’s existing competencies in the electronics industry. In addition to the PureGrowth portfolio, Albemarle is currently selling diethyl zinc (DEZ) to the solar panel industry and will expand its offerings to include dimethyl zinc (DMZ) in the near future.

“By expanding into the electronic-grade metal organic arena, Albemarle will be able to provide a robust portfolio of complementary products and services used throughout the electronics industry,” says Jenny Hebert, global product manager for Electronic Materials. “Albemarle will also benefit from a number of R&D and distribution synergies shared by its various business units,” she adds.

See related items:

AkzoNobel building two new LED precursor plants

Dow Electronic Materials breaks ground on Korean TMG plant

Albemarle building Korean TMG plant to meet growth in HB-LEDs

Chemtura expanding MO precursor capacity and forming Korean JV targeting HB-LEDs

Tags: Albemarle TMG TEG TMI TMA MOCVD

Visit: www.albemarle.com