• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
• /
• v.51 no.7
• /
• pp.311-315
• /
• 2002

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process was required for the global planarization of inter-metal dielectric(IMD), inter-level dielectric (ILD) layers of multi-layer interconnections. In this paper, we studied the characteristics of polishing pad, which can apply shallow trench isolation (STI)-CMP process for global planarization of multi-level interconnection structure. Also, we investigated the effects of different sets of polishing pad, such as soft and hard pad. As an experimental result, hard pad showed center-fast type, and soft pad showed edge-fast type. Totally, the defect level has shown little difference, however, the counts of scratch was detected less than 2 on JR111 pad. Through the above results, we can select optimum polishing pad, so we can expect the improvements of throughput and device yield.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
• /
• v.50 no.9
• /
• pp.438-443
• /
• 2001

In the shallow trench isolation(STI)-chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) process, the key issues are the optimized thickness control, within-wafer-non-uniformity, and the possible defects such as pad oxide damage and nitride residue. The defect like nitride residue and silicon (or pad oxide) damage after STI-CMP process were discussed to accomplish its optimum process condition. To understand its optimum process condition, overall STI related processes including reverse moat etch, trench etch, STI fill and STI-CMP were discussed. Consequently, we could conclude that law trench depth and high CMP thickness can cause nitride residue, and high trench depth and over-polishing can cause silicon damage.

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
• /
• v.2C no.5
• /
• pp.262-267
• /
• 2002

In this paper, we first studied the factors affecting the motor current (MC) signal, which was strongly affected by the systematic hardware noises depending on polishing such as pad conditioning and arm oscillation of platen and recipe, head motor. Next, we studied the end point detection (EPD) for the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process of shallow trench isolation (STI) with reverse moat structure. The MC signal showed a high amplitude peak in the fore part caused by the reverse meal. pattern. We also found that the EP could not be detected properly and reproducibly due to the pad conditioning effect, especially when conventional low selectivity slurry was used. Even when there was no pad conditioning effect, the EPD method could not be applied, since the measured end points were always the same due to the characteristics of the reverse moat structure with an open nitride layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 1999.05a
• /
• pp.501-504
• /
• 1999

In the shallow trench isolation(STI) chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) process, the key issues are the optimized thickness control within- wafer-non-uniformity, and the possible defects such as nitride residue and pad oxide damage. These defects after STI CMP process were discussed to accomplish its optimum process condition. To understand its optimum process condition, overall STI related processes including reverse moat etch, trench etch, STI filling and STI CMP were discussed. It is represented that the nitride residue can be occurred in the condition of high post CMP thickness and low trench depth. In addition there are remaining oxide on the moat surface after reverse moat etch. It means that reverse moat etching process can be the main source of nitride residue. Pad oxide damage can be caused by over-polishing and high trench depth.

• KIEE International Transactions on Electrophysics and Applications
• /
• v.3C no.1
• /
• pp.28-32
• /
• 2003

In this paper, we have studied the in-situ end point detection (EPD) for direct chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures without the reverse moat etch process. In this case, we applied a high selectivity $1n (HSS) that improves the silicon oxide removal rate and maximizes oxide to nitride selectivity Quite reproducible EPD results were obtained, and the wafer-to-wafer thickness variation was significantly reduced compared with the conventional predetermined polishing time method without EPD. Therefore, it is possible to achieve a global planarization without the complicated reverse moat etch process. As a result, the STI-CMP process can be simplified and improved using the new EPD method.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2012

In this paper, the results of finite element(FE) analysis of chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) process using 2-dimensional elements were discussed. The objective of this study is to find the generation mechanism of microscratches on a wafer surface during the process. Especially, a FE model with a particle inside pad pore was considered to observe how such a contact situation could contribute to microscratch generation. The results of the finite element simulations revealed that during CMP process the pad-particle mixture could be formed and this would be a major factor leading to microscratch generation.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 2007

The implications of a theory of lubricated pad asperity wafer contact are traced through several fundamental areas of chemical-mechanical polishing. The hypothesized existence of a nanolubrication layer underlies a high accuracy model of polish rates. It also provides a quantitative explanation of a power law relationship between the coefficient of friction and a measure of pad surface flattening. The theory may further be useful for interpreting friction changes during polishing, and may explain why the coefficient of friction is sometimes observed to have a temperature or velocity dependence.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.282-287
• /
• 2017

SU-8 is an epoxy-type photoresist widely used for the fabrication of high-aspect-ratio (HAR) micro-structures in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). To fabricate highly integrated structures, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) has emerged as the preferred manufacturing process for planarizing the MEMS structure. In SU-8 CMP, an oxidizer decomposes organic impurities and particles in the CMP slurry remove the chemically reacted surface of SU-8. To fabricate HAR microstructures using the CMP process, the adhesion between SU-8 and substrate material is important to avoid the delamination of the SU-8 film caused by the mechanical-dominant material removal characteristic. In this study, the friction force during the CMP process is measured with a CMP monitoring system to detect the delamination phenomenon and investigate the delamination of the SU-8 film from the silicon substrate under various pressure conditions. The increase in applied pressure causes an increase in the frictional force and wafer-edge stress concentration. The frictional force measurement shows that the friction force changes according to the delamination phenomenon of the SU-8 film, and that it is possible to monitor the delamination phenomenon during the SU-8 CMP process. The delamination at a high applied pressure is explained by the effect of stress distribution and pad deformation. Consequently, it is necessary to control the pressure of polishing, which can avoid the delamination in SU-8 CMP.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2004.07b
• /
• pp.1283-1287
• /
• 2004

The design rules are being more strict with requirement of operation speed and development of IC industry. For this reason, required minimum line-width has been narrowed under sub-micron region. As the length of minimum line-width is narrowed, local and global planarization are being prominent. CMP(Chemical-Mechanical Polishing), one of the planarizarion technology, is a process which polishes with the ascent of chemical reaction and relative velocity between pad and wafer without surface defects. CMP is performed with a complex interaction among many factors, how CMP has an interaction with such factors is not evident. Accordingly, the studies on this are still carrying out. Therefore, an examination of the CMP phenomena and an accurate understanding of compositive factors are urgently needed. In this paper, we will consider of the relations between the effects of temperature which influences many factors having an effect on polishing results and the characteristics of CMP in order to understand and estimate the influence of temperature. Then, through the interaction of shown temperature and polishing result, we could expect to boost fundamental understanding on complex CMP phenomena.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.218-223
• /
• 2001

The chemical-mechanical polishing process was carried out for 2"-dia. sapphire wafer grown by horizontalBridgman method on the urethane lapping pad with the silica sol. The polished wafer shows the full-width at halfmaximum of 200~400 arcsec in double-crystal X-ray diffraction, indicating that the slicing, grinding and lapping processes before the polishing process affected the crystalline structural property of the wafer surface by the mechanical residual stress. For the inclusion of surface treatments after chemical-mechanical polishing such as the thermal annealing at the temperature of $1,200^{\circ}C$for 4 hrs. and chemical etching, the crystalline quality was sigdicantly enhanced with the reduced full-width at half maximum up to 8.3 arcsec.arcsec.