Patent ID: 7169030

Claim:
A polishing pad suitable for planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates, the polishing pad comprising a polymeric matrix, the polymeric matrix having a top polishing surface, the top polishing surface having polymeric polishing asperities or forming polymeric polishing asperities upon conditioning with an abrasive, the polymeric polishing asperities extending from the polymeric matrix and being a portion of the top polishing surface that can contact a substrate during polishing, the polishing pad forming additional polymeric polishing asperities from the polymeric material with wear or conditioning of the top polishing surface, and the polymeric polishing asperities being from a polymeric material having a bulk ultimate tensile strength of at least 6,500 psi (44.8 MPa) and a bulk tear strength of at least 250 lb/in. (4.5×10 3 g/mm).