Patent ID: 6500053
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B24B,B24D

Abstract:
A method of polishing a surface of a substrate useful in the manufacture of a semiconductor device, comprising:placing a fluid between the substrate and a thin pad, the thin pad having a polishing layer, the polishing layer further comprising a polishing surface; moving the polishing surface and the substrate surface relative to and biased toward one another as the fluid or additional fluid is maintained between the surfaces, the fluid preventing at least 50% of the surfaces, on average, from touching one another; biasing the surfaces together by applying a uniform force of less than 25 pounds per square inch and compressing the polishing surface, thereby causing the polishing surface to exhibit a planar configuration which is parallel to a major portion of the substrate surface, said polishing surface comprising a plurality of nanoasperities; said polishing layer having a thickness of less than or equal to one millimeter, the polishing layer being bonded to a support film, the support film having a thickness of less than or equal to 1 millimeter, said thin pad having an average total thickness of less than or equal to three millimeters, said polishing surface consisting essentially of a polishing material having: i. a hardness of 15 to 80 Shore D; ii. a yield stress of 300-6000 psi; iii. a tensile strength of 1000 to 15,000 psi; and iv. an elongation to break less than or equal to 500%, said polishing material comprising at least one moiety from a group consisting of: 1. a urethane; 2. a carbonate; 3. an amide; 4. an ester; 5. an ether; 6. an acrylate; 7. a methacrylate; 8. an acrylic acid; 9. a methacrylic acid; 10. a sulphone; 11. an acrylamide; 12. a halide; 13. an imide; 14. a carboxyl; 15. a carbonyl; 16. an amino; 17. an aldehydric and 18. a hydroxyl.