Patent ID: 8894799

Claim:
A method of forming a layered-open-network polishing pad useful for polishing at least one of magnetic, semiconductor and optical substrates comprising: a) providing a first and second polymer sheet or film of a curable polymer, the first and second polymer sheet or film having a thickness, a peelable backing layer attached to the first and second polymer sheet or film; b) exposing the first and second polymer sheets or films to an energy source to create an exposure pattern in the first and second polymer sheet or film, the exposure pattern having elongated sections exposed to the energy source, the energy source being collimated light; c) removing polymer from the exposed first and second polymer sheets or films to form elongated channels through the first and second polymer sheets or films in a channel pattern that corresponds to the exposure pattern, the elongated channels extending through the thickness of the first and second polymer sheet or film without the first and second polymer sheet or film bridging the elongated channels from excessive exposure of the collimated light; and d) attaching the first and second polymer sheets or films and peeling away the peelable backing layer of the first and second polymer sheets or films to form a polishing pad, the patterns of the first and second polymer sheets or films crossing wherein the first polymer sheet or film supports the second polymer sheet or film and the elongated channels from the first and second polymer sheets or films connect and to form the layered-open-network polishing pad with the first layer forming a base layer for attachment to a polishing platen and the layered-open-network pad having perpendicular channel side walls and horizontal top and bottom surfaces.