Abstract: A cathode arc source comprises: a cathode target; a first magnetic field source located above the target; a second magnetic field source located below the target; and a third magnetic field source located between the first and second magnetic field sources and having an opposite polarity to the first magnetic field source; wherein the resultant magnetic field from the first, second and third magnetic field sources has zero field strength in a direction substantially normal to the target at a position above the target. The invention also provides methods of striking a cathode target and methods of depositing coatings which can be carried out using the cathode arc source described herein.

Abstract: A target for sputtering comprises SiZrxOy wherein x is higher than 0.02 but not higher than 5, and y is higher than 0.03 but not higher than 2*(1+x), wherein the target has an XRD pattern with silicon 2-theta peak at 28.29°+/?0.3°, or a tetragonal phase ZrO2 2-theta peak at 30.05°+/?0.3°. The target has a low resistivity, below 1000 ohm·cm, preferably below 100 ohm·cm, more preferably below 10 ohm·cm, even lower than 1 ohm·cm.

Abstract: A sputtering target that is less likely to cause abnormal discharge is manufactured. A method for manufacturing a sputtering target includes performing multi-stage polishing on a sputtering surface of a target material having a Vickers hardness of 100 or less being made of metal by using a plurality of abrasives having different grit numbers in ascending order of grit number from a small grit number to a large grit number.

Abstract: A transparent electroconductive layer 3 includes a first main surface 5 and a second main surface 6 facing each other in a thickness direction. The transparent electroconductive layer 3 is a single layer extending in a plane direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. The transparent electroconductive layer 3 has a plurality of crystal grains 4, a plurality of first grain boundaries 7 partitioning the plurality of crystal grains 4 and having each of one end edge 9 and another end edge 10 in the thickness direction open in each of the first main surface 5 and the second main surface 6, and a second grain boundary 8 branching from a first intermediate portion 11 of one first grain boundary 7A and reaching a second intermediate portion 12 of another first grain boundary 7B.

Abstract: A sputtering target structure includes a body having a first side and an opposing second side. A first sputtering target is coupled to the first side of the body. The first sputtering target includes a first material. A second sputtering target is coupled to the second side of the body. The second sputtering target includes a second material. A rotation mechanism is coupled to the body and is configured to allow rotation of the body from a first orientation to a second orientation.

Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes: a processing container; a substrate holder that holds the substrate in the processing container; and a target assembly disposed in an upper side of the substrate holder. The target assembly includes: a target made of metal, including a main body and a flange provided around the main body, and emitting sputter particles from the main body; a target holder including a target electrode configured to supply power to the target, and holding the target; a target clamp that clamps the flange of the target to the target holder; and an anti-deposition shield provided around the main body of the target to cover the flange, the target clamp, and the target holder, and having a labyrinth structure in which an inner tip end thereof is disposed to enter a recess between the main body of the target and the target clamp.

Abstract: Thermally isolated captive features disposed in various components of an ion implantation system are disclosed. Electrodes, such as repellers and side electrodes, may be constructed with a captive feature, which serves as the electrode stem. The electrode stem makes minimal physical contact with the electrode mass due to a gap disposed in the interior cavity which retains the flared head of the electrode stem. In this way, the temperature of the electrode mass may remain higher than would otherwise be possible as conduction is reduced. Further, this concept can be applied to workpiece holders. For example, a ceramic platen is manufactured with one or more captive fasteners which are used to affix the platen to a base. This may minimize the thermal conduction between the platen and the base, while providing an improved mechanical connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an oxide sintered material that can be used suitably as a sputtering target for forming an oxide semiconductor film using a sputtering method, a method of producing the oxide sintered material, a sputtering target including the oxide sintered material, and a method of producing a semiconductor device 10 including an oxide semiconductor film 14 formed using the oxide sintered material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a plurality of substrates are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a plurality of substrates in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber includes: performing a series of reflow processes on a corresponding series of substrates over at least a portion of a life of a sputtering target disposed in the PVD chamber, wherein a substrate-to-target distance in the PVD chamber and a support-to-target distance within the PVD chamber are each controlled as a function of the life of the sputtering target.

Abstract: A method of forming a tunnel layer of a magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) structure includes forming a first magnesium oxide (MgO) layer by sputtering an MgO target using radio frequency (RF) power, exposing the first MgO layer to oxygen for approximately 5 seconds to approximately 20 seconds at a flow rate of approximately 10 sccm to approximately 15 sccm, and forming a second MgO layer on the first MgO layer by sputtering the MgO target using RF power. The method may be performed after periodic maintenance of a process chamber to increase the tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) of the tunnel layer.

Abstract: A sputtering target material contains one kind or two or more kinds selected from the group consisting of Ag, As, Pb, Sb, Bi, Cd, Sn, Ni, and Fe in a range of 5 massppm or more and 50 massppm or less, in terms of a total content; and a balance consisting of Cu and an inevitable impurity. In the sputtering target material, in a case in which an average crystal grain size calculated as an area average without twins is denoted by X1 (?m), and a maximum intensity of pole figure is denoted by X2, upon an observation with an electron backscatter diffraction method, Expression (1): 2500>19×X1+290×X2 is satisfied, a kernel average misorientation (KAM) of a crystal orientation measured by an electron backscatter diffraction method is 2.0° or less, and a relative density is 95% or more.

Abstract: A target for a cathode sputtering system has a tubular target body made of a sputtering material and at least one connector piece, which is connected to the target body and projects from the target body, for attaching the target body to the cathode sputtering system. The target body is connected to the at least one connector piece in a vacuum-tight manner and the two are rotationally fixed relative to one another. At least one damper element is provided between the at least one connector piece and the target body.

Abstract: A sputtering target packaging structure comprising: a sputtering target including a cylinder part, a flange part disposed on an opening part at one end of the cylinder part, and a cap disposed on an opening part at the other end of the cylinder part; and a packing material made up of a sheet and covering an inner surface and an outer surface of the sputtering target in a close contact state, wherein the packing material includes seal parts on both end sides of the sputtering target.

Abstract: A MgO sintered sputtering target, wherein a ratio of GOS (Grain Orientation Spread) being 0° to 1° is 75% or higher. A MgO sintered sputtering target, wherein a ratio of KAM (Kernel Average Misorientation) being 0° to 2° is 90% or higher. An object of the present invention is to provide a MgO sintered sputtering target capable of reducing particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process shield for use in a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a process shield for use in a process chamber includes a body having a cylindrical shape, wherein the body includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having an outer lip and the lower portion extending downward and radially inward from the upper portion, wherein the outer lip includes a plurality of openings to accommodate fasteners, a plurality of alignment slots extending radially inward from an outer surface of the outer lip, and a notched lower peripheral edge, and wherein a lower surface of the outer lip includes a plurality of grooves.

Abstract: A sputtering target that includes at least two consolidated blocks, each block including an alloy including molybdenum in an amount greater than about 30 percent by weight and at least one additional alloying ingredient; and a joint between the at least two consolidated blocks, the joint being free of any microstructure due to an added bonding agent (e.g., powder, foil or otherwise), and being essentially free of any visible joint line the target that is greater than about 200 ?m width (e.g., less than about 50 ?m width). A process for making the target includes hot isostatically pressing, below a temperature of 1080° C., consolidated perform blocks that may be surface prepared (e.g., roughened to a predetermined roughness value) prior to pressing.

Abstract: A sputtering target structure includes a body having a first side and an opposing second side. A first sputtering target is coupled to the first side of the body. The first sputtering target includes a first material. A second sputtering target is coupled to the second side of the body. The second sputtering target includes a second material. A rotation mechanism is coupled to the body and is configured to allow rotation of the body from a first orientation to a second orientation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a target assembly which allows safe, fracture-free and economic operation of target materials with low fracture toughness and/or bending strength during arc evaporation processes as well as in sputtering processes. The present invention discloses a target assembly for PVD processes, comprising a target, and a target holding device (20), characterized in that the target (10) comprises a first bayonet lock and the target holding device (20) comprises a counterbody for the first bayonet lock of the target and a second bayonet lock for engaging the target assembly in the cooling means of the deposition chamber.

Abstract: Thermally isolated captive features disposed in various components of an ion implantation system are disclosed. Electrodes, such as repellers and side electrodes, may be constructed with a captive feature, which serves as the electrode stem. The electrode stem makes minimal physical contact with the electrode mass due to a gap disposed in the interior cavity which retains the flared head of the electrode stem. In this way, the temperature of the electrode mass may remain higher than would otherwise be possible as conduction is reduced. Further, this concept can be applied to workpiece holders. For example, a ceramic platen is manufactured with one or more captive fasteners which are used to affix the platen to a base. This may minimize the thermal conduction between the platen and the base, while providing an improved mechanical connection.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for physical vapor deposition are provided. The apparatus, for example, includes A PVD apparatus that includes a chamber including a chamber wall; a magnetron including a plurality of magnets configured to produce a magnetic field within the chamber; a pedestal configured to support a substrate; and a target assembly comprising a target made of gold and supported on the chamber wall via a backing plate coupled to a back surface of the target so that a front surface of the target faces the substrate, wherein a distance between a back surface formed in a recess of the backing plate and a bottom surface of the plurality of magnets is about 3.95 mm to about 4.45 mm, and wherein a distance between the front surface of the target and a front surface of the substrate is about 60.25 mm to about 60.75 mm.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to sputtering apparatuses that include a plurality of targets such that a first one or ones of target(s) may be used for sputtering in a first mode, while a second one or ones of target(s) may be used for sputtering in a second mode. Modes may be switched in certain example embodiments by rotating the position of the targets, e.g., such that one or more target(s) to be used protrude into the main chamber of the apparatus, while one or more target(s) to be unused are recessed into a body portion of a cathode of (e.g., integrally formed with) the sputtering apparatus. The targets may be cylindrical magnetic targets or planar targets. At least one target location also may be made to accommodate an ion beam source.

Abstract: A novel metal oxide or a novel sputtering target is provided. A sputtering target includes a conductive material and an insulating material. The insulating material includes an oxide, a nitride, or an oxynitride including an element M1. The element M1 is one or more kinds of elements selected from Al, Ga, Si, Mg, Zr, Be, and B. The conductive material includes an oxide, a nitride, or an oxynitride including indium and zinc. A metal oxide film is deposited using the sputtering target in which the conductive material and the insulating material are separated from each other.

Abstract: Processes of bonding lithium plates to other metal substrates are provided, using lithium plates preformed with a surface having indentations imposed therein, wherein that surface is placed against the substrate, which reduces the force required to achieve interface bonding.

Abstract: A substrate processing system that is optimized for the production of smaller volumes of semiconductor components is disclosed. To minimize cost, the substrate processing system is designed to accommodate smaller substrates, such as substrates having a diameter of roughly one inch. Additionally, the components of the substrate processing system are designed to be interchangeable, thereby further reducing cost and complexity. In certain embodiments, the substrate processing system comprises a lower assembly, which may be used with one or more upper assemblies. The lower assembly is used to support the substrate and provide many of the fluid, electrical, and sensor connections, while the upper assemblies include the apparatus required to perform a certain fabrication function. For example, different upper assemblies may exist for deposition, etching, sputtering and ion implantation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sputtering target having a composition containing 45 at % to 90 at % of In, and the remainder including Cu and inevitable impurities. An In single phase and a Cu11In9 compound phase exist, and an XRD peak ratio I(In)/I(Cu11In9) between the In single phase and the Cu11In9 compound phase is in a range of 0.01 to 3. The average grain size of the Cu11In9 compound phase is 150 ?m or less, the amount of oxygen is 500 mass ppm or less, and the theoretical density ratio is 85% or more.

Abstract: Through the present invention, a thin film containing an FePt-based alloy and carbon, the thin film being capable of being used as a magnetic recording medium, is enabled to be formed using one target, and amount of particles is enabled to be reduced. An FePt—C-based sputtering target containing Fe, Pt, and C, wherein the FePt—C-based sputtering target has a structure in which a C phase substantially being C is dispersed in an FePt-based alloy phase containing 33 mol % or more and 60 mol % or less of Pt with the balance substantially being Fe, an average value of the size indices a of the C phase is 4.0 ?m or more and 9.0 ?m or less, and an average value of the nonspherical indices b of the C phase is 3.0 or more.

Abstract: A process for producing a sputtering target in which a target material is diffusion-bonded to a top face of a backing plate material, the process comprising: a step of heating the top face of the target material by a hot plate while pressing from above thereby diffusion-bonding the target material to the backing plate material in such a manner that the step is performed at a center part prior to an outer peripheral part of the top face.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sputtering a layer of refractory metal layer onto a barrier layer disposed on a substrate are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, a method of sputter depositing a tungsten structure in an integrated circuit includes: moving a substrate into a plasma processing chamber and onto a substrate support in opposition to a sputter target assembly comprising a tungsten target having no more than ten parts per million of carbon and no more than ten parts per million of oxygen present as impurities; flowing krypton into the plasma processing chamber; and exciting the krypton into a plasma to deposit, by sputtering, a tungsten film layer on a material layer of a substrate supported by the substrate support. In some embodiments, the target assembly further includes a titanium backing plate and an aluminum bonding layer disposed between the titanium backing plate and the tungsten target.

Abstract: A magnet bar assembly for a rotary target cathode comprises a support structure, a magnet bar structure movably attached to the support structure and including a plurality of magnets, and a positioning mechanism operatively coupled to the support structure and the magnet bar structure. The positioning mechanism is configured to move the magnet bar structure between a retracted position and a deployed position while inside a magnetic target material cylinder. The retracted position substantially reduces a magnetic force between the magnets and a magnetic target material of a target cylinder when the magnet bar assembly is inserted into the target cylinder or removed from the target cylinder. The deployed position substantially increases the magnetic force between the magnets and the magnetic target material when the magnet bar assembly is in the target cylinder, and allows a magnetic field from the magnet bar structure to penetrate through the magnetic target material.

Abstract: There is provided an oxide sintered material containing indium, tungsten, and zinc, the oxide sintered material including: a first crystal phase that is a main component of the oxide sintered material and includes a bixbyite type crystal phase; and a second crystal phase having a content of the zinc higher than a content of the zinc in the first crystal phase, the second crystal phase including particles having an average major axis size of not less than 3 ?m and not more than 50 ?m and having an average aspect ratio of not less than 4 and not more than 50.

Abstract: A supporting member is configured to support at least one pipe connecting a temperature adjusting unit with a substrate processing apparatus, wherein the temperature adjusting unit adjusts a temperature of an arbitrary component of the substrate processing apparatus, wherein an inside of the supporting member includes a hollow portion and the at least one pipe is arranged in the hollow portion.

Abstract: An oxide sintered body is obtained by sintering indium oxide, gallium oxide and tin oxide. The oxide sintered body has a relative density of 90% or more and an average grain size of 10 ?m or less. In the oxide sintered body, the relations 30 atomic %?[In]?50 atomic %, 20 atomic %?[Ga]?30 atomic % and 25 atomic %?[Sn]?45 atomic % are satisfied. [In], [Ga] and [Sn] are ratios of contents (atomic %) of indium gallium and tin, respectively, to all metal elements contained in the oxide sintered body. The oxide sintered body has an InGaO3 phase which satisfies the relation [InGaO3]?0.05.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus and a target changing device thereof are disclosed. The target changing device includes a stand, a mounting shaft on the stand, a target mounting body sleeved on an outside of the mounting shaft and being rotatable around an axis of the mounting shaft, and a first driving mechanism configured to drive the target mounting body to rotate around the axis of the mounting shaft. The target mounting body includes at least two target mounting surfaces configured to mount targets. When the target mounting body rotates around the axis of the mounting shaft, each of the target mounting surfaces may be switched between an operating state orientation and an idle orientation.

Abstract: A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an average crystal grain size is 50 ?m or more and 150 ?m or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 ?m or less. A tantalum sputtering target, wherein, on a sputtering surface of the tantalum sputtering target, an orientation rate of a (200) plane exceeds 70%, an orientation rate of a (222) plane is 30% or less, an average crystal grain size is 50 ?m or more and 150 ?m or less, and a variation in a crystal grain size is 30 ?m or less. By controlling the crystal grain size of the target, or the crystal grain size and the crystal orientation of the target, effects are yielded in that the discharge voltage of the tantalum sputtering target can be reduced so that plasma can be more easily generated, and the voltage drift during deposition can be suppressed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sputtering apparatus, which relates to technical field of vacuum coating and seeks to solve a problem of low yield of devices manufactured by a sputtering apparatus. The sputtering apparatus includes, a vacuum chamber in which a substrate and a plurality of rotatable target materials facing to the substrate are provided. A distance between any two adjacent target materials is in a range from 160 mm to 220 mm. The sputtering apparatus provided by the present invention is used to improve yield of the devices manufactured by the sputtering apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a backing plate obtaining by bonding an anticorrosive metal and Mo or a Mo alloy, wherein the backing plate comprises, on a surface of the Mo or Mo alloy backing plate to be cooled (cooling surface side), a layer having a thickness corresponding to 1/40 to ? of a total thickness of the backing plate and formed from an anticorrosive metal obtained by bonding one or more types of metals selected from among Cu, Al and Ti, or an alloy thereof. Additionally provided is a sputtering target-backing plate assembly obtained by bonding the foregoing Mo or Mo alloy backing plate and a target formed from a low thermal expansion material. Particularly in semiconductor applications, reductions in size have progressed and control of particles during sputtering has become stricter. The present invention aims to resolve the problem of warpage of sputtering targets formed from low thermal expansion materials and problems occurring with respect to the anticorrosive properties of Mo or Mo alloy backing plates.

Abstract: A process for producing a sputtering target in which a target material is diffusion-bonded to a top face of a backing plate material, the process comprising: a step of heating the top face of the target material by a hot plate while pressing from above thereby diffusion-bonding the target material to the backing plate material in such a manner that the step is performed at a center part prior to an outer peripheral part of the top face.

Abstract: A bonded dissimilar material structure includes a first component made of a first dissimilar material; a second component made of a second dissimilar material stacked under the first component; and a plurality of blind holes formed on an upper surface of the second component; and the first component has a plurality of protrusions formed in the plurality of blind holes on the second component, respectively.

Abstract: A sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium, wherein an average grain area of a B-rich phase is 90 ?m2 or less. A process for producing a sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium, wherein an alloy cast ingot is subject to heat treatment, thereafter subject to primary rolling which includes at least one pass of cold rolling, thereafter subject to secondary rolling, and machined to prepare a target. The obtained sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium has few cracks in the B-rich phase and has a high leakage flux density, and by using this target, it is possible to stabilize the discharge during sputtering, suppress arcing which occurs from cracks in the B-rich phase, and suppress the generation of particles.

Abstract: Preventing a deformation when a metal layer made of copper or copper alloy is brazed on an aluminum-made cooler, a power-module substrate with cooler having low thermal resistance and high bonding reliability is provided: a circuit layer made of copper or copper alloy is bonded on one surface of a ceramic board and a metal layer made of copper or copper alloy is bonded on the other surface of the ceramic board; a second metal layer made of aluminum or aluminum alloy is bonded to the metal layer by solid-phase diffusion; and a cooler made of aluminum alloy is brazed on the second metal layer with Al-based Mg-included brazing material.

Abstract: A sputtering target that includes at least two consolidated blocks, each block including an alloy including molybdenum in an amount greater than about 30 percent by weight and at least one additional alloying ingredient; and a joint between the at least two consolidated blocks, the joint being free of any microstructure due to an added bonding agent (e.g., powder, foil or otherwise), and being essentially free of any visible joint line the target that is greater than about 200 ?m width (e.g., less than about 50 ?m width). A process for making the target includes hot isostatically pressing, below a temperature of 1080° C., consolidated perform blocks that may be surface prepared (e.g., roughened to a predetermined roughness value) prior to pressing.

Abstract: Provided is a high-purity titanium ingot having a purity, excluding an additive element and gas components, of 99.99 mass % or more, wherein at least one nonmetallic element selected from S, P, and B is contained in a total amount of 0.1 to 100 mass ppm as the additive component and the variation in the content of the nonmetallic element between the top, middle, and bottom portions of the ingot is within ±200%. Provided is a method of manufacturing a titanium ingot containing a nonmetallic element in an amount of 0.1 to 100 mass ppm, wherein S, P, or B, which is a nonmetallic element, is added to molten titanium as an intermetallic compound or a master alloy to produce a high-purity titanium ingot having a purity, excluding an additive element and gas components, of 99.99 mass % or more.

Abstract: An Fe-based magnetic material sintered compact containing BN, wherein the Fe-based magnetic material sintered compact has an oxygen content of 4000 wtppm or less. The present invention provides a sintered compact which enables the formation of a magnetic thin film in a thermally assisted magnetic recording media, and in which the generation of cracks and chipping is suppressed when the sintered compact is processed into a sputtering target or the like.

Abstract: An oxide sintered body which is obtained by mixing and sintering zinc oxide, indium oxide, gallium oxide and tin oxide. The relative density of the oxide sintered body is 85% or more and the average grain size of crystal grains observed on the surface of the oxide sintered body is less than 10 ?m. X-ray diffraction of the oxide sintered body shows that a Zn2SnO4 phase and an InGaZnO4 phase are the main phases and that an InGaZn2O5 phase is contained in an amount of 3 volume % or less.

Abstract: A sputtering target includes an indium cerium zinc oxide represented by In2CexZnO4+2x, wherein x=0.5˜2. A method for making a sputtering target includes steps of: mixing indium oxide (In2O3) powder, cerium oxide (CeO2) powder, and zinc oxide (ZnO) powder to form a mixture, a molar ratio of indium (In), cerium (Ce), and zinc (Zn) as In:Ce:Zn in the mixture is 2:(0.5 to 2):1; and sintering the mixture at a temperature in a range from about 1250° C. to about 1650° C.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sputtering a layer of refractory metal layer onto a barrier layer disposed on a substrate are disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, a method of sputter depositing a tungsten structure in an integrated circuit includes: moving a substrate into a plasma processing chamber and onto a substrate support in opposition to a sputter target assembly comprising a tungsten target having no more than ten parts per million of carbon and no more than ten parts per million of oxygen present as impurities; flowing krypton into the plasma processing chamber; and exciting the krypton into a plasma to deposit, by sputtering, a tungsten film layer on a material layer of a substrate supported by the substrate support. In some embodiments, the target assembly further includes a titanium backing plate and an aluminum bonding layer disposed between the titanium backing plate and the tungsten target.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sputtering target of a Cu—Ga sintered body in which the oxygen content is further reduced and the abnormal discharging can be suppressed, and a method for producing the same. The sputtering target according to the present invention is a sintered body having: a texture in which Na compound phases are dispersed in a matrix with a ? phase and a ? phase of a Cu—Ga alloy; and a component composition made of: 20 atomic % to 30 atomic % of Ga; 0.05 atomic % to 10 atomic % of Na; and the Cu balance and inevitable impurities including elements other than Na in the Na compound, wherein an average grain size of the ? phase is 30 ?m to 100 ?m, and an average grain size of the Na compound phases is equal to or less than 8.5 ?m.

Abstract: Provided is a sputtering target-backing plate assembly wherein a Cu—Cr alloy backing plate is bonded to a Ti target via a layer of a strain absorbing material placed at an interface between the Ti target and the Cu—Cr alloy backing plate. In particular, the present invention relates to a sputtering target-backing plate assembly and a production method thereof, the assembly being capable of absorbing strain at the interface between the target and the backing plate in order to prevent deformation (displacement) during sputtering. An object of the present invention is to solve a problem inherent to Titanium (Ti) and a problem in selecting a backing plate compatible with it.

Abstract: A target assembly is provided which is capable of preventing abnormal discharging from being generated between a projected portion of a backing plate and a side surface of a target, and which is also capable of surely preventing a bonding material that bonds the target and the backing plate together from seeping to the outside. The backing plate has a projected portion which is projected outward beyond an outer peripheral end of the target, and an annular shield plate is disposed to lie opposite to the projected portion so as to enclose the target in a state in which the target assembly is assembled onto a sputtering apparatus (SM). That portion of the backing plate to which the target gets bonded is defined as a bonding portion, and this bonding portion is protruded relative to the projected portion.