Patent ID: 8173228
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: B24C

Abstract:
1. A method of reducing the amount of particulates generated from the surface of a gas diffuser which is exposed to plasma discharge within a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition processing chamber, wherein the gas diffuser comprises an aluminum alloy and an exterior surface, a second surface opposite the exterior surface, and a plurality of gas openings extending therebetween, each gas opening having a pin hole portion and a tapered portion extending between the exterior surface and the pin hole portion, the method comprising: bead blasting the exterior surface and the tapered portion of the gas opening of the gas diffuser to increase the amount of surface area present on the exterior surface and the tapered portion of the gas opening; anodizing the exterior surface of the gas diffuser to form an anodized layer on the exterior surface; and stripping the anodized layer from the exterior surface to form a non-anodized exterior surface, wherein none of the anodized layer is stripped in a plasma processing chamber and the gas diffuser which is exposed to plasma discharge has the non-anodized exterior surface.