Patent ID: 6236023
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: C23C,C30B,Y10S

Abstract:
A process for cleaning a semiconductor substrate thermal processing chamber which contains internal, opaque, heated parts, the process comprising:heating the internal, opaque parts to a temperature between about 500.degree. C. and 1100.degree. C.;maintaining a pressure in the processing chamber less than atmospheric pressure;flowing a clean gas mixture containing an inert gas selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, and helium, an oxidizing gas, and a reactive cleaning gas through the processing chamber for a period of time;wherein the oxidizing gas comprises oxygen, the reactive cleaning gas comprises CHCIF.sub.2, and a flow ratio of the oxidizing gas to the reactive cleaning gas is less than about 1/1, and;purging the cleaning gas mixture from the processing chamber with an inert gas.