Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6)

Applications & Selling Training

What is SF6?

• Sulfur Hexafluoride

• 146.055 molecular weight

• Nonflammable, nonreactive, nontoxic

• Liquefied gas, vapor pressure 298 psig (@70oF)

• EPA greenhouse gas

– Mandated reporting under 40 CFR Part 98

SF6 – Applications

• High Voltage Electrical Equipment– Circuit breakers, GIS– 72.5 kV to 800 kV

• Aluminum and Magnesium Production– Cover gas and degassing

• Semiconductor Manufacturing– Plasma Etching

• Leak Detection (Tracer Gas)

SF6 – Regulatory/GHG Issues

• GWP of 22,800 (CO2=1)– Greenhouse gas but not an Ozone depleter

• 1 lb. of SF6 = 11.4 tons of CO2

• Atmospheric life of 3,200 years (CO2=200)• Many facilities must report under EPA GHGRP

– Subpart DD, SS, OO, I, F, T

• California and Massachusetts have emission mandates – less than 1% by 2020

• Users may require recycling and tracking

SF6 – Regulatory/GHG Issues

• U.S. Emissions down 80% last 25 years

• Global emissions are up

• China responsible for > 25% global emissions

U.S. Emissions 2015 -

• 2.9 million metric tons CO2e – Electrical HV Eqpt

• 0.7 million metric tons CO2e – Semiconductor

• 0.7 million metric tons CO2e – Metals

SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment

• High Voltage Circuit Breakers

SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment• High Voltage Circuit Breakers

– Typically 145 kV and above– Used as a dielectric– OEM’s are GE, Siemens, Hitachi, ABB, Mitsubishi, etc.– Utilities are the end users– GHGRP, subpart DD (Utilities) or SS (OEM)

• Utilities must report if over 17,820# nameplate capacity• OEM’s report if over 23,000# purchased

– 99.9% purity – ASTM and IEC spec.

SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment

• OEM’s - High Voltage Circuit Breakers

– Not as much opportunity here

– Tied up in contracts, auctions

– Can be global deals

– Only a few locations

– May have need for local delivery/inventory mgmt

– Call on purchasing, engineering/projects, ops.

– Specs. may be important

SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment

• Users - High Voltage Circuit Breakers– Utilities, they will be in your area

– Call on the substation maintenance facilities• Can buy outside of contract

• Like smaller packages, local pickup/delivery

– Call on purchasing• Develop the relationship and trust, local stocking/delivery

– I & E Department• With maintenance, also buy PCG’s, MRO, PPE, etc.

SF6 Applications – Electrical Equipment

• Users - High Voltage Circuit Breakers

– Repair/service contractors (High Voltage)

• Do work for the utilities and sometimes OEM’s

• Recovery/DILO carts

• NAICS Code Searches

– OEM’s 335311, 335313

– Utilities 221122 (221111-221121), 811310

– Service/Maintenance 811310

SF6 Applications – Mg and Al Production

SF6 Applications – Mg and Al Production

• Magnesium– 33% lighter than Aluminum– Used in Aluminum alloys– Mg is highly flammable when molten– SF6 mixes used as cover gas, 99.9% - 99.99% purity– Mixed with CO2 as cover gas/mold purge

• NAICS Code 331491– Mag foundries and nonferrous metal production/casting– Talk to operations/production personnel

SF6 Applications – Mg and Al Production

• Aluminum– SF6 used as degassing agent, typically 5% mix w/ N2 or Ar

• 99.9% purity

– Helps remove H2 bubbles that cause porosity• H2 comes from melt interaction with moisture

– Foundries will purchase premixed 5% blends or pure SF6 if they have a blender

• NAICS Code 331313– Al foundries and nonferrous metal production/casting– Talk to operations/production personnel

SF6 Applications – Semiconductor Mfg

– Plasma Etching, RIE

SF6 Applications – Semiconductor Mfg

– Plasma Etching, RIE

• Multi-step process on wafers

• Used in mfg chips for MEMS, LCD, Photovoltaics, etc.

– SF6 and Halocarbons are used as etchant gas

• 4.0 and 5.0 purities

– SF6 yields higher etching rates

– Different gases chosen based on rate and selectivity

– F does the work

SF6 Applications – Semiconductor Mfg

– NAICS 334413, 334111, 334419

– Universities• Nanofabrication facilities

• Call on purchasing, PI’s, lab managers

• May be able to supply outside of contract

– Semiconductor Fabricators• Various component suppliers, NAICS report

• Photovoltaics, MEMS, displays, etc.

• Call on purchasing, production, engineering

– Other gases will be in play at these facilities

SF6 Applications – Tracer Gas

– Leak Testing Applications

– Usually in low ppm mixture

– SF6 very detectable

– Better tracer and less expensive than Helium

– Pressure vessels

– Condensers

– Ventilation systems, hoods

– NAICS 334519, 238220, 333415, 332420, 333318

SF6 Applications – Others

– Retinal Surgery

– Ultrasound Imaging

– MRI of pulmonary ventilation

– Multi-pane windows

– Tennis Balls

– Magic tricks

SF6 Sales Goal

Win New Business!

SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions– Utilities - Qualifying Questions

• Do you report emissions to EPA under GHGRP?• What is your total nameplate capacity?• How many pounds of SF6 do you purchase per year?• How many pounds do you recover/recycle per year?• Do you need help in returning or recycling used SF6?• Do you need help managing/tracking SF6 cylinders and residual?• Would a different size cylinder be of value?• Would local delivery/pickup be of value?• Would vendor managed inventory be of value?• What current issues do you have with availability or service?

SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions– Foundries - Qualifying Questions

• Mag – what cover gas mixture do you use?– Do you mix this in-house or buy pre-mixed?

• Mag – what is your usage of this gas per month?• Mag – do you produce other alloys or other melts that require a

different cover gas or degassing mixture?• Al – do you use SF6 for degassing?• Al – what is the degassing mixture?

– Do you mix in-house or buy pre-mixed?

• Al – what is your usage of this gas per month?• Al – do you produce other alloys that require a different mix?• What current issues do you have with availability or service?

SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions

– Semiconductor/NanoFab - Qualifying Questions• Do you use SF6 for etching?

• What purity and valve?

• What cylinder size and what volume do you buy per year?

• What other process gases do you use?

• What businesses have research partnerships?

• Ask about current contract and ability to sell direct– Grant mandated purchasing

• Do you require local delivery or vendor managed inventory?

• What current sourcing/service issues do you have?

SF6 Sales – Hunting/Qualifying Questions

– Tracer Gas - Qualifying Questions

• Do you use or have you considered SF6 for leak detection?

• What mixture concentration and cylinder size?

• What other leak detection gases do you use?

• What volume do you buy per year?

• Do you require local delivery?

• What current sourcing/service issues do you have?

SF6 Sales – Summary for Success

• Research NAICS codes in your area

• Research the prospective customer

• Prepare qualifying questions

• Get the customer talking

• Find the pain

• Follow up!

Thank you!

Questions?

Greg Lewis 440-477-6000

Greg@efgases.com