Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5951779?dq=5,664,133
Timestamp: 2014-07-11 08:24:29
Document Index: 552246240

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19', 'art 19']

Patent US5951779 - Treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like and treatment system ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like, for carrying out step by step in a sealed container, a series of processes comprising chemical process with a cleaning chemical (chemical process) and final water rinsing process by using rinsing pure water (rinse process) and a drying process...http://www.google.com/patents/US5951779?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5951779 - Treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like and treatment system for the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5951779 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/986,544Publication dateSep 14, 1999Filing dateDec 8, 1997Priority dateJul 9, 1997Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCN1142582C, CN1204863APublication number08986544, 986544, US 5951779 A, US 5951779A, US-A-5951779, US5951779 A, US5951779AInventorsTetsuo Koyanagi, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Ichio Yokota, Naofumi Mitsumune, Koichi TangeOriginal AssigneeSes Co., Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (17), Referenced by (52), Classifications (18), Legal Events (7) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetTreatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like and treatment system for the sameUS 5951779 AAbstract A treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like, for carrying out step by step in a sealed container, a series of processes comprising chemical process with a cleaning chemical (chemical process) and final water rinsing process by using rinsing pure water (rinse process) and a drying process of removing attached water from the surface of an object through mixing substitution using an organic solvent, and a treatment system for the same, wherein warm pure water is fed into the sealed container after the final water rinsing process of the cleaning process is completed. The vapor or fog of the organic solvent is fed into the space procured on the upper side of the container upward the water surface of pure warm water, where the object as placed vertically in parallel arrangement is immersed and sunk. After the upper space is filled with the organic solvent, inert gas is fed into the container, while the warm pure water is discharged under aspiration from the bottom side of the container at a state such that the feeding of the organic solvent is stopped.
What is claimed is: 1. A method of treating semiconductor wafers including cleaning and drying the wafers in a sealed container comprising the steps:a. transferring and vertically placing a plurality of wafers in a container and sealing the container; b. feeding a quantity of warm pure water into said sealed container sufficient to completely submerge said plurality of wafers and establish a level of said warm pure water in said sealed container; c. feeding a vapor or fog of an organic solvent into at least a space in said sealed container above the level of said warm water; d. terminating feeding the vapor or fog of the organic solvent; e. drying said plurality of wafers by aspirating the warm water through an outlet in the bottom of the container wherein said pressure in the container is reduced during said aspiration; and f. controlling the pressure in said sealed container until said aspiration is complete by continuously feeding an inert gas into the space above the level of said warm pure water in said sealed container during and subsequent to said aspiration to provide a preset reduced pressure in said sealed container. 2. A treatment method of semiconductor wafers according to claim 1,wherein the step of feeding the vapor or fog of the organic solvent into the sealed container is carried out while the container is gas discharged under aspiration and the feeding of the vapor or fog of the organic solvent is terminated when the space above the level of warm pure water is filled with the organic solvent. 3. A treatment method of semiconductor wafers according to claim 1, wherein the water temperature of the warm pure water to be fed into the sealed container is within a range of 30 to 65� C. and the preset reduced pressure in the sealed container in the container is within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg until the liquid discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration is terminated.
4. A treatment method of semiconductor wafers according to claim 1, wherein the preset reduce pressure in the container is kept through the flow control by modifying the feeding rate of inert gas or the liquid discharge rate of the warm pure water.
5. A treatment method of semiconductor wafers according to claim 1, wherein the preset reduce pressure in the container is kept through the flow control by constantly maintaining the feeding rate of inert gas or the liquid discharge rate of the warm pure water.
6. A treatment method of semiconductor wafers according to claim 1, wherein the vapor or fog of the organic solvent fed at least into the space above the warm pure water of the sealed container, is condensed on the water surface of the warm pure water to form a mixture solution layer on the water surface, and the vapor or fog thereof is condensed on the surface of the plurality of wafers following the lowering of the water surface due to the liquid discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration, for displacing the attached water on the surface of the plurality of wafer; wherein the organic solvent is re-vaporized from the mixture solution layer, owing to the constantly maintained preset reduce pressure and the thermal energy of the warm pure water; and wherein the condensation on the surface of the plurality of wafers is continuously repeated while the vapor of the organic solvent floats up around the periphery of the plurality of wafers.
7. A treatment system for semiconductor wafers, which can carry out a series of processes from the cleaning process of a plurality of wafers to the drying process thereof in a sealed container, comprisinga container in a box form with a bottom and with an opening on the upper side and of a size such that a plurality of sheets of the object can be transferred and placed vertically in parallel arrangement, and additionally with a sealing lid freely opening and closing on the upper opening; a liquid feeding means connected to the bottom side of the container to feed warm pure water into the container at least to a liquid level enough to immerse and sink a plurality of wafers after a water rinsing process of the cleaning process is terminated; a liquid discharging means connected at least to the liquid feeding means and the upper side of the container or the bottom side thereof, for liquid discharge under aspiration; a solvent feeding means connected to the upper side of the container to feed a vapor or fog of an organic solvent into the container; a gas feeding means connected to the upper side of the container, to feed inert gas into the container; a detecting means mounted on the upper side of the container, to detect the pressure reduction in the container; a control means connected and arranged between the detecting means and the liquid discharge means or the gas feeding means in order to control the liquid discharge rate of the liquid discharge means or the feeding rate of the gas feeding means on the basis of the pressure reduction output from the detecting means compared with a preset pressure reduction value, so that the pressure reduction in the container is maintained at the preset pressure reduction value at the process of the liquid discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration, until the liquid discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration is completed. 8. A treatment system according to claim 7, wherein the water temperature of the warm pure water during feeding into the container is within a range of 30 to 65� C. and the preset pressure reduction value in the container is within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg until the completion of the liquid discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration to the outside of the container.
The present invention relates to a treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like and a treatment system for the same; more specifically, the present invention relates to a treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like, comprising a series of cleaning processes including a chemical process for removing dust, organic residues and inorganic residues or the like from surfaces of solid objects such as semiconductor silicon wafer, liquid crystal board and masking board by using several types of cleaning chemicals and a subsequent final water rinsing process (rinsing process) for rinsing off the cleaning chemicals from the object surface by using rinsing pure water, and a drying process of removing the rinsing pure water attached on the object surface, namely attached water (water drops) after completion of the final water rinsing process of the cleaning process, wherein these processes are carried out step by step in a sealed container. More specifically, the present invention relates to the improvement of a vapor treatment method and a treatment system for the same, wherein the removal of the attached water on the surface of the object is carried out at a drying process of mixing substitution using an organic solvent comprising a material readily mixable with the attached water and having a lower surface tension, for example IPA (isopropyl alcohol).
The treatment method of the present invention for semiconductor wafers and the like is including a series of processes from a cleaning process of an object to a drying process thereof in a sealed container and comprising a process of feeding warm pure water into the container where a plurality of sheets of the object are transferred and placed vertically in parallel arrangement, after the final water rinsing process of the cleaning process is completed, a process of feeding an organic solvent in vapor or fog at least into the upper space procured upward the fluid surface of the warm pure water in the container, a process of continuously feeding inert gas from the upper side of the container while the warm pure water is discharged under aspiration from the bottom side of the container after the supply of the organic solvent is terminated, and a process of drying the object comprising continuously reducing the pressure inside the container under aspiration, wherein the drying process of the object should be carried out under controls and regulations so that the pressure reduction in the container might be maintained at a preset pressure reduction degree at least until the process of discharging the warm pure water from the bottom side of the container is completed.
The treatment system described above is characterized in that the water temperature of the warm pure water during feeding into the container is within a range of 30 to 65� C.; the preset pressure reduction degree in the container is within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg until the completion of the discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration to the outside of the container; preferably, the water temperature of the warm pure water is within a range of 40 to 50� C.; the pressure reduction degree in the container is preset within a range of -300 mmHg to -150 mmHg. The treatment system described above is characterized particularly in that the water temperature of the warm pure water is 45� C. and the pressure reduction degree in the container is preset at -240 mmHg.
According to the treatment method of the present invention, hence, warm pure water within a range of 30 to 65� C. is fed to a water level enough to immerse and sink the object in a container after a series of cleaning processes from the chemical process to the final water rinsing process are completed, whereby the object is heated to a necessary temperature around 30 to 65� C. through the thermal energy of the warm pure water, which promotes drying at the drying process. Then, at a process of feeding an organic solvent in vapor or fog at least into the upper space procured upward the fluid surface of the warm pure water in the container, the pressure reduction in the container is maintained at a preset pressure reduction degree within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg until the discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration is completed, whereby the vapor or fog of the organic solvent fed into the container is condensed on the surface of the warm pure water to form a mixture solution layer, and alternatively, the vaporization or fogging is maintained, through the atmosphere inside the container under reduced pressure as maintained at a preset pressure reduction degree and through the thermal energy of the warm pure water, so that the vapor or fog is condensed on the surface of the exposed object following the lowering of the surface of the warm pure water, to be mixed and substituted with the attached water on the surface, and the attached water flows over the object surface in drops, together with the mixture solution of the attached water with the organic solvent, and is then removed from the object surface via the liquid current from the object surface toward the warm pure water surface, which current is developed in the mixture solution layer. More specifically, the object is dried, owing to the following two actions; the substitution action of mixing with the organic solvent and the action of liquid current developing in the mixture solution layer, which works to convey the attached water from the object surface toward the warm pure water surface. Then, the organic solvent is again vaporized from the mixture solution layer around the object, due to the atmosphere inside the container under reduced pressure which is maintained at a preset pressure reduction degree and due to the thermal energy of the warm pure water, so that the aforementioned condensation on the subject surface is repeatedly continued.
The treatment system described above is characterized in that the water temperature of the warm pure water during feeding into the container is within a range of 30 to 65� C.; and that the preset pressure reduction value in the container is within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg, until the completion of discharging the warm pure water under aspiration to the outside of the container; preferably, the water temperature of the warm pure water is within a range of 40 to 50� C.; and the pressure reduction in the container is preset within a range of -300 mmHg to -150 mmHg. The treatment system is characterized particularly in that the water temperature of the warm pure water is 45� C. and the pressure reduction in the container is preset at -240 mmHg.
When the upper space in the container is filled with the organic solvent, the solvent valve is closed, while the liquid discharge valve of the liquid discharge means connected to the bottom side of the container is opened. Subsequently, the warm pure water in the container, passing through the liquid discharge conduit, is discharged under aspiration from the bottom side of the container to the outside of the container. Then, the pressure reduction in the container following the discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration is detected by the detecting means, and serially output to a control means, which performs the process of comparison between the current pressure reduction value in the container, which is detected by the detecting means, and the preset pressure reduction value within a range of -350 to -50 mmHg. Based on the process information, the discharge rate of the warm pure water through the liquid discharge means or the feeding rate of inert gas through a gas feeding means are adjusted and modified by the control means, whereby the inside of the container is maintained at the preset pressure reduction degree until the discharge of the warm pure water under aspiration is completed. More specifically, a part of the vapor or fog of the organic solvent fed into the container is condensed on the surface of the warm pure water to form a mixture solution layer on the fluid surface, while the vaporization or fogging is maintained in the container under the atmosphere of reduced pressure maintained at the preset pressure reduction via the thermal energy of the warm pure water, whereby the vapor or fog is condensed on the surface of the exposed object as the liquid surface of the warm pure water is lowered, for substitution with the attached water on the subject surface. The attached water flows in drops over the surface of the object, together with the mixture solution of the attached water with the organic solvent, and the attached water is then removed from the object surface via the liquid current developing in the mixture solution layer from the surface of the object toward the water surface of the warm pure water. In other words, the object is dried through two actions, namely substitution action due to the mixing with the organic solvent and liquid current action developing in the mixture solution layer, which works to convey the attached water from the object surface toward the water surface of the warm pure water. Then, the organic solvent is again vaporized from the mixture solution layer around the exposed object, due to the atmosphere under reduced pressure and the thermal energy of the warm pure water, for repetitive condensation on the object surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic view depicting one example of the treatment system carrying out the treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal view of the container;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the major part of the drying principle of a object, owing to two actions of a substitution action of the attached water with an organic solvent in the container and liquid current action occurring in the mixture solution layer from the surface of the object toward the water surface of warm pure water, under the provisions of continuous re-vaporization of the organic solvent dissolved in warm pure water around the exposed object during a process of discharging warm pure water under aspiration;
FIG. 4 is a control block view depicting one example of a control means maintaining the pressure reduction P1 in the container at preset pressure reduction value P;
FIG. 5 is a schematic control view of the same;
FIG. 6 is a control block view depicting another example of the control means maintaining the pressure reduction P1 in the container at the preset pressure reduction value P;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the same;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting the process operations at a series of processes from the cleaning process to the drying process;
FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting the operation to control the pressure reduction P1 in the container at the preset pressure reduction value P during the discharge of warm pure water under aspiration;
FIG. 10 is the time chart of the same;
FIG. 11 is a flow chart depicting another example of the process operations at a series of processes from the cleaning process to the drying process;
FIG. 12 is the time chart of the same; and
FIG. 13 is a schematic view depicting one example of the treatment system with a container of a double structure of inner and outer structures to carry out the treatment method of semiconductor wafers and the like in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings.
Herein, the vapor generation unit 25 reserves an organic solvent having an extremely low surface tension and being readily miscible with the attached water on the surface of the object W, for example IPA (isopropyl alcohol) and comprises a vapor generation tank provided with a heating means such as electric heater to heat and boil the organic solvent for vaporization, wherein the vapor of the organic solvent is fed into the container 1, through the solvent feeding conduit 14 which connects the vapor generation tank and the like and the container 1. Not shown in the figure, any optional forced feed pump capable of feeding an organic solvent at a necessary pressure and a reservoir tank of organic solvent can be satisfactorily connected to the solvent feeding conduit 14, instead of the vapor generation unit 25, in order to feed the organic solvent fog into the container 1. In this case, the organic solvent fog is generated through a fog spray nozzle arranged on the wall face of the container 1. Additionally, the organic solvent is satisfactorily fed into the container 1, while heating the organic solvent within a range of 30 to 60� C. by a heating means such as electric heater arranged on the reservoir tank, whereby an effect of preventing temperature reduction in the container 1 can be brought about, compared with feeding of an organic solvent fog at ambient temperature.
Gas detecting means 18 serves a role to serially detect the pressure reduction P1 in the container and serially output the detection signal (pressure information) to the control means, particularly during liquid discharge of warm pure water under aspiration, the discharge being initiated after warm pure water is fed and reserved in the container 1 and the upper space 20 procured upward the water surface L is filled with the vapor of the organic solvent, and the detecting means 18 comprises a piezo electric sensor or a pressure sensor, with a function to transform the pressure change in the container 1 into a voltage value and serially output the pressure value, namely detection signal, to the process part 19-10 described below of the control part 19-1. The sensor is located on the wall face of the container 1 where the upper space 20 is procured and is also connected with the process part 19-10 of the control part 19-1, whereby the sensor outputs the detection signal, namely the current pressure reduction P1, to the process part 19-10.
For establishing the present invention, it is additionally important that the water temperature of warm pure water fed into the container 1 is preset within a range of 30 to 65� C.; the preset pressure reduction value P in the container 1 is preset within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg, until the termination of the liquid discharge process of warm pure water in the container 1 as initiated after the feeding of the vapor of the organic solvent into the upper space 20 in the container 1 after the termination of the final water rinsing process of a series of cleaning processes of the object.
Therefore, taking account of the disadvantages caused by too low water temperature or too high water temperature of warm pure water as described above, in accordance with the present invention, under the provision that the water temperature during feeding of warm pure water is preset to 30� C., the preset pressure reduction value P in the container 1 is -350 mmHg so as to establish in the container 1 the conditions such that the following re-vaporization phenomenon is continuously repeated; the re-vaporization phenomenon means re-vaporization of the organic solvent around the exposed object W from a mixture solution layer N formed on the water surface L of warm pure water, which surface is lowered following the liquid discharge under aspiration, for example mixture solution layer N formed on the water surface L of warm pure water, by the condensation of the vapor of an organic solvent such as IPA (isopropyl alcohol) with an extremely small surface tension. If the preset pressure reduction value P is below -350 mmHg under the provision that the water temperature of warm pure water is preset to 30� C., more specifically, the water temperature of warm pure water becomes around the boiling point, there will be the possibility of disadvantageous behavior such as foaming and the like in the warm pure water. In other words, the generated foam floats up to the water surface L, so that the mixture solution layer N formed on the water surface L is damaged. Then, the liquid current developing in the mixture solution layer N to remove the attached water from the surface of the object W, is deteriorated, so that no effect of the liquid current developing in the mixture solution layer N over drying is possibly brought about. Alternatively, the preset pressure reduction value P in the container 1 should be -50 mmHg, under the provision that the water temperature of warm pure water during feeding is preset to 65� C. More specifically, when the preset pressure reduction value P is above -50 mmHg under the provision that the water temperature of warm pure water is preset to 65� C., the organic solvent may not any more be re-vaporized effectively from the mixture solution layer N during the process of discharging warm pure water under aspiration from the bottom side of the container 1.
Regarding the conditions to continuously repeat the re-vaporization phenomenon of the organic solvent in the container 1, it might be realized if the water temperature of warm pure water is preset at a temperature below 30� C., for example at 25� C. and the preset pressure reduction value P in the container 1 is below -350 mmHg, for example -400 mmHg, irrespective of the heating of the object W so as to promote the drying of the object W, but if the preset pressure reduction value P is lowered to -400 mmHg, the pressure resistance of the container should necessarily be further improved against such pressure reduction, which induces escalation in the manufacturing cost of such container 1 to meet the required pressure resistance; if the pressure in the container 1 is eventually reduced down to -400 mmHg, a proportionally large aspiration pump is required. Therefore, such disadvantages occur, consequently. Additionally, if the water temperature of warm pure water is preset above 65� C., the object W is affected disadvantageously by such overheating, to cause the deterioration of the quality of the object W, in addition to the aforementioned disadvantage such as the reduction of the vapor drying effect.
In accordance with the present invention, hence, taking account of the disadvantages caused by too low water temperature and too high water temperature of warm pure water and the disadvantage caused by the lowering of the preset pressure reduction value P in the container 1 and also taking account of the requirement for continuously repeating the re-vaporization phenomenon of the organic solvent around the exposed object W from the mixture solution layer N formed on the water surface L during the liquid discharge process of warm pure water from the bottom side of the container 1, the presetting of the pressure reduction P in the container 1 within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg is an essential condition, under the provision that the water temperature of warm pure water is preset within a range of 30 to 65� C. Preferably, the preset pressure reduction value P is within a range of -300 to -150 mmHg under the provision that the water temperature of warm pure water is preset within a range of 40 to 50� C.; the experimental results suggest that the preset pressure reduction value P in the container 1 is preferably at -240 mmHg, under the provision that the water temperature of warm pure water is preset to 45� C.
Description will now follow about the treatment method by using the treatment system of such structure (referred to as "present method" hereinafter), with reference to the flow chart and time chart of the process operations for a series of processes from cleaning process to drying process as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, and the flow chart to regulate and control the pressure reduction P1 in the container 1 at the drying process shown in FIG. 9. Firstly, from the opened upper opening into the container 1, a plurality of sheets of the object W are transferred and placed at an appropriate interval, vertically in parallel arrangement (Step 30). When the object W is transferred and placed in the container 1 followed by sealing of the upper opening of the container 1 by the sealing lid 21, the gas valve 16 of the gas feeding means 15 is opened to initiate the feeding of inert gas through the gas feeding conduit 17 into the container 1 from the gas inlet 15-1 (Step 31). Simultaneously, any one of the liquid discharge valves 8, 9 or both of the two are opened to carry out the gas discharge from the container 1.
Then, the liquid discharge valve 8 is opened to initiate the liquid discharge of warm pure water in the container 1 under aspiration at a required discharge rate from the liquid feeding inlet 2-1 on the bottom through the liquid discharge conduit 10 to the outside of the container 1 (Step 35). Concurrently, the detecting means 18 detects the current pressure reduction P1 in the container 1, following the liquid discharge of warm pure water under aspiration, and the resulting pressure information is sequentially output to the regulation part 19-1 of the control means 19 (Step 36). When the pressure information is output to the regulation part 19-1, the process part 19-10 of the regulation part 19-1 performs comparative process between the current pressure reduction P1 in the container 1 and the preset pressure reduction value P at -240 mmHg for the inside of the container 1 (Step 37). If determination process is done such that the current pressure reduction P1 is lower than the preset pressure reduction value P (P>P1), a process signal for the reduction of the valve opening degree of the gas valve 16 so as to reduce the feeding rate of inert gas, of which feeding is continued from the cleaning process of the object W, is output through amplifier 19-11 to the gas valve 16 (Step 38). Alternatively, if determination process is done such that the current pressure reduction P1 is higher than the preset pressure reduction value P (P<P1), a process signal for the elevation of the valve opening degree of the gas valve 16 so as to elevate the feeding rate of inert gas is output through amplifier 19-11 to the gas valve 16 (Step 39). The regulation and control of the pressure reduction P1 should be continued, until the liquid discharge of warm pure water under aspiration is completed.
After the completion of discharging warm pure water in the container 1, the condition of reduced pressure under aspiration is kept for a predetermined period in order to exhaust all the remaining organic solvent, mixture solution with the organic solvent, moisture and the like to the outside of the container 1 (Step 40). Finally, by elevating the volume of inert gas still continuously fed into the container 1 to resume atmospheric pressure (ambient pressure) in the container 1 (Step 41), and opening the sealing lid 21 to transfer the object W out of the container 1 (Step 42), a series of processes from the cleaning process to the drying process can be completed. Finally, the gas valve 16 and the liquid discharge valve 8 should be closed.
At the liquid discharge process of warm pure water under aspiration, therefore, the volume of the organic solvent to be used per each process cycle can be reduced largely compared with conventional processes by the utilization of the re-vaporization from the mixture solution layer N, which is formed on the water surface L and in contact with the surface of the object W. Additionally, the vapor of the organic solvent fed into the upper space 20 is maintained as vapor, owing to the atmosphere under reduced pressure kept at the preset value P of -240 mmHg and to the thermal energy of warm pure water at 45� C., so that the vapor can be kept in contact to the surface of the exposed object W, and condensed on the object surface due to the temperature difference from the object surface and be therefore subjected to mixing substitution with the attached water, so that the attached water flows over the surface of the object W together with the mixture solution N-1 containing the organic solvent, to be dropped toward the water surface L of warm pure water, whereby the concentration gradient of the organic solvent in the mixture solution layer N formed on the water surface L of warm pure water is maintained constant because the mixture solution N-1 is continuously dropped and supplemented, until the liquid discharge of warm pure water is terminated. Thus, the attached water is securely and rapidly removed from the surface of the object W through the stable and effective liquid current action developing in the mixture solution layer N toward the water surface of warm pure water (FIG. 3).
In accordance with the present method, more specifically, the object W is securely and rapidly processed for drying, through two actions of substitution action of the attached water with the organic solvent and liquid current action developing in the mixture solution layer N from the surface of the object W toward the water surface L of warm pure water. Then, the organic solvent is re-vaporized around the object W, from the mixture solution layer N in contact to the surface of the object W following the lowering of the water surface L due to the liquid discharge of warm pure water under aspiration, and the condensation on the surface is repeated continuously for mixing substitution with the attached water, while the attached water flows, together with the mixture solution N-1 containing the organic solvent, over the surface of the object W and is dropped toward the water surface L of warm pure water. In other words, by dropping and supplementing continuously the mixture solution N-1 containing the organic solvent into the mixture solution layer N on the water surface L lowered following the liquid discharge of warm pure water under aspiration, the action of liquid current, from the surface of the object W to the water surface of warm pure water, due to the concentration gradient of the organic solvent developing in the mixture solution layer N, can be securely exerted, while the attached water can effectively removed from the surface of the object W, owing to the two actions of the substitution action and the liquid current action in the mixture solution layer N.
1. At the process comprising a process of feeding warm pure water at a temperature range of 30 to 65� C. into a container to a water level enough to immerse and sink an object after completion of a series of cleaning processes from chemical cleaning to water rinsing process, a heating process of the object to a necessary temperature around 30 to 65� C. via the thermal energy of the warm pure water, and a liquid discharge process under aspiration of discharging the warm pure water from the bottom side of the container, the process being initiated after the termination of the feeding of an organic solvent in the form of the vapor or fog into the upper space procured upward the water surface of the warm pure water, the pressure reduction in the container during the liquid discharge process should be maintained at a preset pressure reduction value P within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg so that the following conditions should be established in the container; the vapor or fog of the organic solvent fed into the upper space of the container can be maintained and the re-vaporization phenomenon of the organic solvent occurs in such a way that the organic solvent is continuously re-vaporized in repetition from the mixture solution layer formed on the water surface of warm pure water around the exposed object, whereby the organic solvent vapor is in contact to the surface and is then condensed on the surface due to the temperature difference between the vapor and the object surface, for mixing substitution with the attached water. By realizing the re-vaporization of the organic solvent, the amount of the organic solvent to be used per process cycle can be reduced prominently, compared with conventional processes.
2. The vapor of the organic solvent fed into the upper space of the container is kept as it is in vapor, owing to the atmosphere in the container under reduced pressure, which is kept at the preset pressure reduction value within a range of -350 mmHg to -50 mmHg and owing to the thermal energy of the warm pure water within a range of 30 to 65� C., so that the organic solvent vapor can be kept in contact to the surface of the exposed object from the water surface following the lowering of the warm pure water, whereby the vapor is condensed on the object surface due to the temperature difference from the object surface for mixing substitution with the attached water, and whereby the attached water is securely and rapidly removed from the surface of the object, owing to a liquid current from the surface of the object toward the water surface of the warm pure water, the current developing in the mixture solution layer due to the concentration gradient of the organic solvent along the mixture surface location. More specifically, the object can efficiently be processed for drying, due to two actions of mixing substitution with the organic solvent and the liquid current developing in the mixture solution layer, which works to convey the attached water from the surface of the object toward the water surface of the warm pure water.
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