Patent ID: 6199259
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: C23C,H01J,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for producing a sputtering target assembly, comprising the steps of:providing a set of components of a sputtering target assembly assembled in an unbonded sandwich, said set of components includes at least two layers of said unbonded sandwich being separated by a bonding layer, said at least two layers being disposed adjacent to one another and not bonded to one another when assembled in said unbonded sandwich, wherein said components are assembled at a temperature below a bonding temperature of said bonding layer;pressing the layers of the unbonded sandwich together using a source of pressure which provides a generally uniform pressure distribution across a top surface and a bottom surface of said unbonded sandwich;raising the temperature of the unbonded sandwich above said bonding temperature of said bonding layer while maintaining pressure on said layers;maintaining the temperature and pressure on the layers of said unbonded sandwich above said bonding temperature for the duration of a bond completion time; andmaintaining the pressure on the unbonded sandwich while the temperature of the unbonded sandwich falls to a process completion temperature;enclosing the unbonded sandwich in a flexible vacuum tight enclosure;creating a vacuum pressure within the flexible vacuum tight enclosure, thus forming a vacuum encapsulated unbonded sandwich assembly; andwherein the pressing step includes pressurizing the flexible vacuum tight enclosure and vacuum encapsulated unbonded sandwich assembly in a pressure chamber; andwherein the steps of raising the temperature, maintaining the temperature, and maintaining the pressure are all performed in a pressure chamber.