Patent ID: 9436093
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: G03F

Claim Text:
1. A pattern forming process comprising the steps of: applying a resist composition onto a substrate, said resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted carboxyl group, an acid generator and an organic solvent, prebaking to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, baking the film, developing the exposed resist film in an organic solvent-based developer to form a negative resist pattern, applying a shrink agent onto the negative resist pattern, said shrink agent being a solution of a polymer comprising recurring units (a1) having the general formula (1) in a solvent selected from the group consisting of ester solvents of 7 to 16 carbon atoms and ketone solvents of 7 to 16 carbon atoms, baking, and removing the excessive shrink agent with the organic solvent-based developer for thereby shrinking the size of spaces in the pattern, wherein R 1 is hydrogen or methyl, R R X R