This paper reports on the measurement of fluid (water) pressure distribution at a soft (polyurethane) pad/steel interface. The distribution of the interfacial fluid pressure has been measured with a specially-designed fixture over the typical range of normal loads and velocities used in the chemical mechanical polishing/planarization of silicon wafers. The results show that, for most cases, the leading two-thirds of the fixture exhibits a subambient pressure, and the trailing third a positive pressure. The average pressure is sub-ambient and may be of the order of 50∼100% of the normal load applied. An analytical model has been developed to predict the magnitude and distribution of the interfacial fluid pressure. The predictions of this model fit the experimental results reasonably well, especially for low sliding velocities. [S0742-4787(00)00902-4]

A preliminary model for the contact mechanics and fluid mechanics of the chemical mechanical polishing process is presented. Only the basic equations of elastic contact surface mechanics and hydrodynamic lubrication are required. Although the model is highly idealized, no ad hoc assumptions or adjustable parameters are required. Some new experimental results are presented, reinforcing the counterintuitive experimental determination of suction fluid pressure below the pad. The model correctly predicts the magnitude of the suction pressure and the effect of load, speed, and roughness. © 1999 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.

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This paper reports the results of a model for predicting the development of subambient pressures during the polishing of flat hard substrates by sliding against a compliant pad in the presence of a slurry (liquid). This work is an extension of our prior experimental work on the polishing of single crystal silicon wafers with polyurethane pads and high pH slurries containing silica particles. Subambient pressures have important implications in the polishing rate and uniformity of silicon and, therefore, in the manufacture of large-scale integrated circuits. The subambient pressure is the result of pad asperity compression at the wafer leading edge followed by elastic reexpansion beneath the wafer due to the nonuniform wafer/pad contact stress. Liquid is expelled from interasperity voids where high leading edge contact stress causes asperities to be compressed. Lower contact stress behind the leading edge causes asperity reexpansion leading to recreation of interasperity voids and subambient liquid pressures. A Poiseuille like in-flow of liquid from the sides of the wafer limits the value of the subambient pressure. Numerical simulations predict subambient pressures as a function of liquid viscosity and relative velocity of the pad and wafer and the pad and wafer mechanics which follow the same trend as the experimental data. [S0742-4787(00)01702-1]

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