Patent ID: 6998148

Claim:
A method of preparing an integrated circuit comprising the steps of: a) depositing on a substrate a layer of a composition comprising B-staged thermoset dielectric matrix material having a plurality of cross-linked polymeric porogen particles dispersed therein; b) curing the B-staged thermoset dielectric matrix material to form a thermoset dielectric matrix material wherein the porogen particles are not copolymerized with the B-staged thermoset dielectric matrix material; c) subjecting the thermoset dielectric matrix material to conditions which at least partially remove the porogen particles to form a porous thermoset dielectric material layer without substantially degrading the thermoset dielectric material; d) patterning the thermoset dielectric layer; e) depositing a metallic film onto the patterned dielectric layer; and f) planarizing the film to form an integrated circuit; wherein the thermoset dielectric material is selected from the group consisting of benzocyclobutenes and polyarylenes; wherein the porogen particles are substantially compatible with the B-staged thermoset dielectric matrix material and wherein the porogen particles comprise as polymerized units one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of N-vinyl monomers and heteroatom-substituted styrene monomers and at least one (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent.