Foam Polyurethane Pad "IC1000(TM)"

Last time, we explained how the groove processing on the surface of polishing pads affects the diffusion of slurry. Here, we will introduce examples that visually verify the diffusion effect of slurry due to grooves. We prepared six different types of groove processing as samples on the polishing pad "IC1000," which has become the de facto standard for semiconductor use. - Circular Groove - Perforated Groove - Radial Groove - Spiral Groove - XY Groove - Arc Groove When a blue-colored liquid is dripped under the same conditions, it becomes clear that the diffusion of the liquid varies depending on the groove processing. It can be confirmed that the circular grooves and spiral grooves have high slurry retention, while the radial grooves and arc grooves excel in slurry discharge. Thus, even with the same polishing pad, the diffusion of slurry differs due to groove processing, which affects the action of slurry intervening with the workpieces such as wafers. Therefore, the selection of groove processing is very important. Our company can assist you in selecting groove processing while considering your process conditions and targets, so please feel free to consult with us.

In selecting CMP pads, I will explain about one of the components, the groove processing. Generally, the surface of CMP pads is often grooved by the manufacturer before shipment. By applying groove processing to the surface of CMP pads, the following effects can be expected: 1. Improved retention and flowability of polishing slurry 2. Enhanced uniformity within the wafer surface and increased polishing rate 3. Prevention of wafer adhesion to the polishing pad surface 4. Discharge of processing debris and reaction byproducts The main specifications for groove processing typically include XY linear grooves, perforation grooves (through holes), and concentric grooves, and in some products, combinations of these may be possible. Various specifications for XY linear grooves, such as groove width and pitch, are available. We will select the optimal groove specifications tailored to your conditions, such as polishing equipment and processes, so please feel free to consult with us.

Polishing is a technique for flattening or creating a mirror finish on the surface of the workpiece. There are various principles and methods of polishing. - Chemical polishing: A method that primarily utilizes the etching action of chemical solutions to remove distortions from the workpiece surface. It does not use abrasive particles. Example: electrolytic polishing. - Mechanical polishing: A method that utilizes the cutting action of hard tools holding fine abrasive particles, to achieve flatness or a mirror finish on the workpiece. Example: grinding. - Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP): A composite process that combines the chemical dissolution action of polishing liquids with the mechanical removal action of abrasive particles. This method, represented by CMP, is used for flattening processes in semiconductor manufacturing, but it originally applied technology for mirror finishing of silicon wafers. The manufacturing processes for semiconductor devices require extremely high precision, reaching atomic levels of 0.1 micrometers. There are various other polishing methods, but the chemical mechanical polishing provided by Nitta Haas is one of the most precise ultra-precision polishing techniques.

Nitta Haas has a technical center (technology lab) located at its Kyoto factory. We have clean rooms ranging from Class 10 to 10,000, allowing us to perform evaluations from polishing and cleaning to measurement for various applications such as silicon, compound wafers, and semiconductor device wafers. By conducting polishing evaluations in the presence of our customers and reviewing the results on the spot while facilitating discussions among engineers, we deepen mutual understanding and expedite the next actions. We consider this to be one of the values we can deliver to our customers. For those who need detailed information such as a list of our equipment, please contact us via the "Contact Us" button.