Patent ID: 6287185
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: B24B,B24D

Abstract:
A method of chemical-mechanical polishing of a semiconductor device or precursor to a semiconductor device, comprising:A. providing a polishing pad, which is not a felt-based polishing pad created by coalescing a polymer onto a fiber substrate, comprising a thermoplastic hydrophilic material having:i. a density greater than 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 ;ii. a critical surface tension greater than or equal to 34 milliNewtons per meter;iii. a tensile modulus of 0.02 to 5 GigaPascals;iv. a ratio of tensile modulus at 30.degree. C. to tensile modulus at 60.degree. C. of 1.0 to 2.5;v. a hardness of 25 to 80 Shore D;vi. a yield stress of 300-6000 psi;vii. a tensile strength of 1000 to 15,000 psi; andviii. an elongation to break less than or equal to 500%,further comprising a polishing surface, said surface having features produced by a thermoforming process, said features facilitating polishing of a workpiece;B. placing said workpiece in close proximity to said pad;C. introducing a polishing fluid between said workpiece and said pad;D. producing relative motion between said pad and said workpiece.