Patent · US Expired

Chemical-mechanical polishing methods

US6375548B1 · kind B1 · utility

22Cited by
10References
57Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 30, 1999
Grant dateApr 23, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/02052
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) method includes applying a solid abrasive material to a substrate, polishing the substrate, flocculating at least a portion of the abrasive material, and removing at least a majority portion of the flocculated portion from the substrate. Applying solid abrasive material can include applying a CMP slurry or a polishing pad comprising abrasive material. Such a method can further include applying a surfactant comprising material to the substrate to assist in effectuating flocculation of the abrasive material. Such surfactant comprising material may be cationic which includes, for example, a quaternary ammonium substituted salt. Also, for example, the surfactant comprising material may be applied during polishing, brush scrubbing, pressure spraying, or buffing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.