Hexamethyl Disilazane as an Alternative to Critical Point Drying

Critical point drying (CPD) is an established method of dehydrating biological tissue prior to examination in the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). This technique was first introduced to preserve three-dimensional structure of biological specimens for transmission electron microscopy, later it was used for obtaining dry specimens for SEM examination. Although CPD is a well-established method for drying specimens, there has been compelling evidence that it can damage soft specimens in two different ways: Structural integrity and Chemical Integrity. Over the years, use of the pharmaintermediate, Hexamethyl Disilazane (HMDS) in critical point drying is an established method of dehydrating biological tissue prior to examination in the SEM. Moreover, use HMDS in the imaging of cells on coal instead of CPD have led to negating the need for expensive equipment.

Studies on the applications of Hexamethyl Disilazane (HMDS) over Critical Point Drying (CPD):

• CPD and HMDS sample preparation techniques were used for testing the effects of both on the cervical cells on field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray. The results indicated that SEM imaging, elemental composition, and processing time for sample preparation with the HMDS technique were better than CPD technique for cervical cell preparation technique because in terms of weight percentages of carbon and oxygen element compositions in HMDS technique were higher than the CPD technique.

• CPD and HMDS samples used for preserving biological structures, revealed that samples prepared using CPD had tissue damage in the form of cracking. In addition there was excess amount of debris around the crack openings. Another potential result that placed HMDS as a superior drying agent is the time constraints that can be effective parameters while preparing more specimens; use of the Pharma Intermediate may be preferred over the traditional technique as it allows multiple samples to be dried simultaneously.

Preventing the gas/liquid interface is the main goal of critical point drying (as well as the alternative process of HMDS). Whenever a liquid evaporates into the gaseous phase, large surface tension phenomena occur. These surface tensions can harm fine surface details on the surface of the sample. CPD usually takes up to 3 hours to perform. Using Hexamethyldisilazane instead of CPD is quicker and can yield acceptable results on some samples. When the sample is dehydrated to 100% ethanol, a fifty/fifty mix of ethanol/HMDS can be placed on the sample followed by 2 or 3 exchanges of HMDS. After these exchanges, sample is in a fume hood where HMDS evaporates off. The vapor pressure of HMDS is such that surface damage is minimal.

The pharmaintermediate, Hexamethyl Disilazane is extensively used to replace the critical drying technique in sample preparation of tardigrades for SEM imaging because conventional procedures required CPD apparatus or machines to achieve the suitable temperature/pressure combination to completely dehydrate specimens, but with HMDS, the specimens can be dehydrated by simply bathing them in HMDS, ethanol solution, eliminating the use of any special equipment. All in all, the use of HMDS in SEM instead of CPD is preferred as it is safer, cheaper and more practical.

Calcium Bromide - A Hot Cake Completion Fluid

Calcium Bromide(CaBr2) which is an excellent drilling tool and is a very popular choice in the oilfield industry. With immense increase in drilling activities in petroleum exploration, the demand for clear brine fluids has sky-rocketed. Calcium Bromide, with 14.2 lbs/gal density, is an excellent choice for a completion fluid because of its various properties like non-damaging to the drilling formation, it is very stable chemically and thermally, and it can be used as a single salt clear brine or can be mixed with other bromides and chlorides such as zinc bromide, sodium bromide, calcium chloride, etc; making effective multi-salt compositions that are a formation of balanced high density from 11.7 lbs.gal to almost as high as 19.4 lbs/gal. It is available in powder and liquid forms. In its liquid form, it serves as an excellent drilling mud that helps balance the unstable strata while drilling oil & gas and prevents intrusion of water that may be encountered while drilling on uneven surfaces. In its powder form, it dissolves in water & other brines, and yields completion workover and packer fluids of densities upto 2.3 gm/ml (19.2 lb/gal).

Major Applications of Calcium Bromide as a completion fluid

Calcium Bromide is used as a suspension tool to keep the cuttings from filling the dug holes. While drilling, the hydrocarbons and the rock formations increase the pressure inside the drill holes, CaBr2 is used to control this pressure and even tone it. It is also very useful to seamlessly adjust the characteristics of individual drill holes. Another important use of CaBr2 as a completion fluid in oil well drilling activities is that it stabilizes the rock formation. By aiding in the repair of the individual drill holes, it helps in preventing the collapse of the rock formation. CaBr2is becoming a popular choice in oil and gas drilling, it is in fact preferred over many other fluids because it mixes easily with all the major zinc and calcium based brines and adjusts the density of other brine systems. Calcium Bromide can also be used to drill secondary drill holes from the previously drilled ones, thus increasing the oil well drilling productivity.

This bromide, a highly effective Completion Fluid is used in both offshore and onshore drilling operations. Recent expansion in drilling activity like deep, high pressure wells have contributed to the rapid growth in this market, accounting to an expected growth from $10.86 billion in 2013 to $18.37 billion by 2020, with a CAGR of 7.8 percent.

There are a few comprehensive reports based on the market analysis of CaBr2 as an important agent amongst various drilling chemicals. Such reports give an in-depth study about the current state of CaBr2 across global market. Right from the manufacturing perspective, capacity, production value, and profit to its demand/supply and import/export these reports explore the various aspects and provides a stream-lined guide to the oil field industry players about it.

Hexamethyl Disilazane & Pharma Intermediate

Hexamethyl Disilazane, which is also known as HMDS, is a special organosilicon compound that is a derivative of ammonia. It is different from the traditionally known compound because it has trimethylsilyl groups in place of the two hydrogen atoms. It is a colorless liquid that is a popular reagent and precursor to many bases, making the compound a very popular ingredient in different types of organic synthesis and organometallic chemistry. HMDS has many uses as a chemical intermediate, release agent, lubricant, coupling agent, deactivator for chromatographic support materials, silylating agent in pharmaceuticals, adhesion promoter for photoresists on silicon (electronics), as reagent for temporary protection of reactive sites in manufacture of betalactum antibiotics, etc. Amongst these, the main applications of HMDS are in electron microscopy and in semiconductor electronics industry.

Major Applications of HMDS

HMDS represents an attractive to critical point drying (CPD) in the imaging of cells on coal, negating the need for expensive equipment. Coal, a popular choice in scanning electron microscopy, is easily fragmented into sub-micron particles, which can be problematic in critical point drying procedures.  Alternatively, HMDS was found to be easily used as an ideal substitute to critical point drying that takes place at the time of sample preparation. Even though critical point drying is a popular method of drying up biological specimens that are used for scanning electron microscopy, drying up of specimens by HMDS evaporation is also a very good alternative. Hexamethyldisilazane evaporation is not used frequently however experts have suggested that this is also a great method for drying up of specimens. Hardly any differences are observed during the process and furthermore this method is proved to be much more helpful as far as drying up of whole-mount cells for AFM and TEM are concerned.

Not only this, in the semiconductor industry, with the use of HMDS as semiconductor, companies have been able to enable powerful yet small chips inside computers, tablets and smartphones to work better on a consistent basis. HMDS is used to augment the adhesion of photoresist on silicon and SiO2 surfaces. The effectiveness of HMDS on adhesion is correlated with the reactivity of this compound with surface hydroxyl groups to form a new siloxane end product, i.e. Si-O-Si(CH3)3. This newly formed termination on the substrate renders the surface more hydrophobic in character and leads to greater wettability by photoresist. The latter condition is a crucial factor in good bonding. As a result of these altered characteristics due to the surface chemistry, the treated silicon surfaces become highly compatible with both negative and positive photoresists.

A few experiments were also made to verify the hydrophobicity and adsorption properties of HMDS thin films and the results pointed out that HMDS films can be used: for ultraviolet protection of flexible organic substrates, such as PP, for sensor and/or preconcentrator development, due to their adsorption properties, and in spatial applications due to resistance for O2 attack in hostile conditions, such as plasma etching. Thus, with many applications as described above, HMDS has found its way to be a major player as a Pharma Intermediate.

The Role of Oilfield Chemicals in the Turnaround and Rise of Oilfield Industry

Oilfield chemicals are manufactured on a large scale mainly for their usage in the gas and oil industry. These specialty oilfield chemicals are known to enhance the quality and performance of the production in a manufacturing unit. By delivering apt quality specialty chemicals, oilfield chemicals manufacturers are able to improve the overall recovery rate of the hydrocarbons that are used in the oilfield industry. Consistent advancements in technology and growth in the shale industry has created various positive opportunities for these specialty chemicals. Increased demand for fuel and growth in large scale business activities are also two of the significant driving factors that have contributed to the turnaround and rise of oilfield industry.

The Role of Oilfield Chemicals in The Rise and Turnaround of Oilfield Industry

Utilized in almost all the stages of gas and oil production, ranging from drilling and well exploration, EOR applications to oil production, specialty oilfield chemicals are anticipated to continue to record consistent growth which is driven strongly by increasing demand for energy all over the world. Oilfield Chemicals Manufacturers have identified the fact that they have a huge gap to fill with most of the gas and oil resources in the world drying up. This is where they have been able to provide competent completion and drilling chemicals that have made the work of various industries easier.

Calcium Bromide – A Comprehensive Oilfield Chemical

Calcium bromide available in powder and liquid form, is a comprehensive completion fluid and oilfield chemical. With a CAS number: 7789-41-5 and molecular formula: CaBr2, calcium bromide is one of the best Oilfield Chemicals to be used in the industry because most of the companies in the oil and gas industries opt for CaBr2 for making their applications smoother. Calcium bromide is nothing but the hydrobromic acid of the calcium salt. It can absorb moisture from the air and in its powder form it completely dissolves in common brines and water. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that calcium bromide has played a significant role in boosting the demand for oilfield chemicals and the industry as a whole.

Drivers and Restraints for The Market

As per various industry reports, change in the trend of demand for specialty chemicals is anticipated to create many more opportunities for the manufacturers in the industry. The three main drivers for the market are: improved demand in specialty processes like well stimulation, rise in crude oil production and increase in deep water drilling activities.


It has been observed that powerful rise in the demand for energy and fuel sources is creating a huge demand for chemicals. However political issues across the world are causing some problems for the oilfield chemicals manufacturers, especially in the Middle Eastern regions.

Market Segmentation

For the purpose of deriving ideal forecasting reports, various experts have segment the global oilfield chemicals industry into various types of applications and products. The kinds of products are usually segmented into specialty chemicals and advanced polymers. However, the chemicals on the other hand are sub-categorized into corrosion, biocides and scale inhibitors, pout-point depressants and surfactants. Key applications of all these products comprises in drilling fluid, fracking, cementing, well stimulation, improved oil recovery, production chemicals and completion fluids.

These are some of the interesting things to note about the turnaround and rise of oilfield industry and the role of oilfield chemicals in it.

Calcium Bromide Manufacturers Going Global with Quality Oilfield Chemicals

Calcium Bromide one of the essential oilfield chemicals, has a molecular formula of CaBr2 and is available in both liquid and powder form. This is an important oilfield chemical which contributes to large scale manufacturing processes and therefore it is important for it to comply with the highest standards of chemicals in the industry. Calcium bromide manufacturers create these chemicals with the help of thorough product development, unique manufacturing processes and research using the current technology. Calcium bromide is nothing but hydrobromic acid’s calcium salt. Calcium bromide is produced as a result of a reaction between calcium carbonate, calcium oxide and hydrobromic acid. It is known to adapt the given rutile structure that features octahedral Ca. At the time when it is heated strongly in air, it produces bromine and calcium oxide.

Some common applications of Calcium Bromide

Calcium Bromide can easily absorb moisture from the environment due to the fact that it is a hygroscopic powder. It also gets easily dissolved in water and other common brines, yielding packer fluids. In comparison to other prominent chemicals, calcium bromide is very useful in various applications such as neuroses medication, fire retardants, photography, food preservatives and freezing mixtures.

The main purpose why Calcium Bromide Manufacturers create calcium bromide is because it is helpful in adjusting and managing the overall density of recycled or fresh work over, packer and completion brines. In its solid and powdered form, calcium bromide is utilized for the purpose of preparing solids-free and high density workover and completion fluids at the time when the price of transporting the liquid is a bit price prohibitive. It is also used across the world for formulating brines which are single-salt in nature. On the other hand, it can also used in tandem with other prominent dual valence salts for eventually forming brines of given densities. 

Calcium bromide as an Oilfield Chemical is used mainly in two major applications. It is used as a special oxidizer for the purpose of mercury emission control and as clear brine liquid in the oil and gas industry. Calcium bromide is mainly used for controlling wellbore pressures at the time of workover and completion operations in the case of upstream gas and oil. As far as mercury emission control is concerned, this chemical is carefully sprayed on the given coal before the combustion takes place. Another major use of calcium bromide is that it can be easily utilized along with the brines of calcium chloride and calcium chloride in dry form for formulating fluids that are non-damaging and possess a density in the range of 11.7 lbs/gal – 15.1 lbs/gal.

With the rise in demand of calcium bromide, its filteration has also become a global topic of discussion. It is needless to say that filteration has improved the quality of calcium bromide and other brines making it easier for the clients to manufacture better quality end products as a result.

An Overview of the Chemical Manufacturing Industry and HMDS Manufacturers

HMDS manufacturers

Chemicals like HMDS and Chloromethyl Isopropyl Carbonate play a crucial role in the pharmaceutical industries because they act as great intermediates that power important manufacturing processes. The pharma intermediate industry is becoming bigger and better due to the emergence of companies like Chemcon Specialty Chemicals. Chemcon is one of the most prominent HMDS Manufacturers that have changed the market significantly. Besides HMDS, the company also specializes in manufacturing Chloromethyl Isopropyl Carbonate which is a colorless and clear liquid with a molecular formula C5H9ClO3.

Performance of HMDS

For understanding the role and significance of these chemicals better, it is important to go through an entire overview of the industry and the top HMDS manufacturers, which have regained pace after a long period of recession. Various manufacturers are responsible for producing complex chemicals like HMDS in this interlinked yet self-sufficient industry. These specialty chemicals are nothing but chemical products which are sold not on the basis of their composition but their function or performance. These can be chemical formulations or single entities based on their requirements. Due to the fact that manufacturing complex chemicals like CMIC and HMDS requires special innovation and technology, the emergence of players like Chemcon has proved to be a boon for the industry.

Even though this industry is undergoing a huge transition, one important fact which has emerged is that several Japanese, Western European and North American companies are dominating the market. However, with several economic barriers being broken down, the growth of technology and presence of trade liberalization, more and more companies are entering the market to break the monopoly. As a result, specialty chemicals like Chloromethyl Isopropyl Carbonate and HMDS are now being sold at affordable rates. In Asia too, several Indian and Chinese HMDS manufacturers have entered the industry and are doing exceedingly well. As more and more competition increases, it seems that the clients will be in a win-win situation because the costs will be lower and the quality of these specialty chemicals will keep on improving.

In the last decade or so, the growth in the specialty chemical industry has been particularly low, however the profitability has been decent considering the fact that there has been a very competitive environment. The growth, which has been predicted for the upcoming future, looks to be somewhere around 2.0% which is not bad at all. The fact that all the new manufacturing firms are coming up with better technology and tools such as driers, reactors and condensers, the growth is surely going to be better by the next decade.

Uses of HMDS in Different Section

Various segments in the specialty chemicals industry are predicted to grow faster than the average growth speed. Some of these segments include: electronic chemicals, oil field chemicals, radiation curable coatings and specialty polymers. Popular chemical manufacturer like Chemcon also specializes in oil field chemicals and therefore the prospects of the company look really good from the onset.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the prospects of the specialty chemicals industry growing look very good not just in certain parts of the world, but the growth seems to be equally divided across the world. In no time, the world will see many more HMDS manufacturers coming up and giving tough competition to the firms having a monopoly in the market.