Patent ID: 7708854

Claim:
A method of processing a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of: applying a liquid adhesive to a work carrier, wherein a diameter of the work carrier is substantially equal to a diameter of the workpiece, and wherein the work carrier comprises a porous material including a plurality of pores at least a portion of which are interconnected, wherein a portion of the plurality of pores include pore passages that comprise at least 10% of the pore volume, and wherein the pore passages traverse the porous material from a top side to a backside of the work carrier; applying a vacuum pressure to the work carrier, wherein the plurality of pores accommodate a portion of the liquefied solid upon application of the vacuum pressure to the work carrier; placing the workpiece in intimate contact with the liquefied adhesive; hardening the liquefied adhesive while maintaining the vacuum pressure to form a solid adhesive and to secure the workpiece to the work carrier, processing the workpiece while holding the workpiece on the work carrier; and applying a solvent through the plurality of pores to dissolve the solid adhesive and to release the workpiece from the work carrier.