Patent ID: 8361703

Claim:
A pattern forming process comprising the steps of (1) applying a resist material onto a substrate to form a photoresist film, (2) applying a resist protective coating composition onto the photoresist film to form a protective coating thereon, (3) heat treating and exposing the coated substrate to high-energy radiation from a projection lens through a photomask while holding a liquid between the substrate and the projection lens, and (4) developing with a developer, said resist protective coating composition comprising a polymer P1 comprising recurring units of the general formula (1): wherein R 1 is hydrogen, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R 2a and R 2b are hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic C 1 -C 15 alkyl, R 2a and R 2b may bond together to form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached, R 3 is a single bond or straight, branched or cyclic C 1 -C 15 alkylene, and R 4 is a straight, branched or cyclic C 1 -C 20 alkyl or fluoroalkyl.