Comments on: LCD Chemical Found to Have 17,000 Times the Climate Impact of CO2.

By: Jad

Jad — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:57:16 +0000

If i have an LCD monitor in my room, is it going to affect my health? What’s not clear to me is whether LCDs emit NF3 during normal usage or not. Could someone please clarify?

By: Ed

Ed — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:51:56 +0000

I’ve been recycling electronics for many years including LCD. These articles regarding NF3 being released in the recycling process are popping up everywhere. From what Dan is saying this NF3 is used during manufacturing as an etchant and not present at end of life?

By: Bobby Grace

Bobby Grace — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:13:38 +0000

It’s good to know there is a safe alternative available, Dan.
The wording in the article specified that there were no reported measurements in peer-reviewed journals and that it was urgent to document atmospheric NF3, which led me to assume that nothing was being done. It’s good to hear that the EPA is doing monitoring and that it can be broken down.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:32:01 +0000

I have been in the semiconductor engineering business 21 years. I first used NF3 in 1992 as an etchant in an R&D facility. This gas was monitored by the EPA even back then. The first production site I built using NF3 in 1997 was equipped with state of the art scrubbers. These scrubbers break down the NF3 into a harmless gas. The effect of NF3 as a green house gas has always been known and monitored by the EPA. These articles are irresponsible!
In 2000 I switched to C5F8 with a GWP of 90. This is a half life of .98 years and is a much better etchant. Cost is much higher.

By: bulgarian solicitors

bulgarian solicitors — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:48:05 +0000

The Wikipedia article is much more informed, in addition to being sourced. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_trifluoride#Greenhouse_gas