Patent ID: 8172961

Claim:
An Al-base alloy sputtering target comprising Ni and one or more rare earth elements, wherein there are 5.0×10 4 /mm 2 or more compounds at least containing Ni or rare earth elements whose aspect ratio is 2.5 or higher and whose equivalent diameter is 0.2 μm or larger, when a cross sectional surface perpendicular to the plane of the target is observed at a magnification of 2000 or higher, wherein (a) 80% or more of the compounds have the major axis direction on the plane vertical to the plane of the target and are within the range of ±30 degrees with respect to the direction which is parallel to the plane of the target, and (b) the number of bulky compounds whose equivalent diameter exceeds 5 μm is 500/mm 2 or fewer.