User talk:KDS4444/Ultra-pure water

Ultrapure water (UPW) is the term used for highly purified water (18.0 megohm plus) used most commonly in manufacturing semiconductors. It is not an owned name.

Water, when it is very pure, takes on some different properties. Ultrapure water has properties similar to a solvent. It absorbs any and all non-water molecules it is exposed to. Ultrapure is water so pure that the resistivity of the water is 18 million ohm-centimeter or above. (Theoretically, water, alone, does not conduct electricity, infinite resistivity) Conductivity meters are commonplace in the industry and measure conductivity and or resistivity thus water purity, in-line.

The only other option for making water this pure is distilling it. Cost is prohibitive in the volumes needed.

"Deionized pure water is a poor electrical conductor, having a resistivity of 18.2 million ohm-cm (18.2 megohm) and conductivity of 0.055 microsiemens. It is the amount of ionized substances (or salts) dissolved in the water which determines water's ability to conduct electricity. Therefore, resistivity and its inverse, conductivity, are good general purpose quality parameters."

Universally, ultrapure water begins with ordinary tap water and is then purified to the absolute highest resistivity possible. Reverse osmosis, demineralization using Cation and Anion beds, followed by mixed bed demineralizers is the most general formula. The quality and analysis of the tap water determine the pre-treatment methodology.

"Cleaner than clean Ultrapure water (UPW) plays an essential role in the manufacturing of integrated circuit semiconductor chips. “There are many steps in processing a wafer,” says Tom Diamond, director of environmental health and safety for the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), which represents 75-80% of the semiconductor industry capacity in the US." http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:KDS4444/Ultra-pure_water&action=edit&redlink=1#

Finally, while ultrapure water doesn't get the credit it could, (you obviously haven't heard of it), it should get some. You and I benefit from ultrapure water right now. The chips in each of our computers/ tablets / smart phones each have utilized the unique properties of ordinary water purified to ultrapure standards in posting our keystrokes.

It is likely that the present utilization definition of UPW will make way for a more "properties of UPW" in the future. For now, that a definition of ultrapure water (UPW) exists is sufficient.

Intel, Texas Instruments, Nokia, Motorola, Samsung all use ultrapure water in large quantities.