Abstract: The present invention provides methods of manufacturing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP polishing) layer for polishing substrates, such as semiconductor wafers comprising providing a composition of a plurality of liquid-filled microelements having a polymeric shell; classifying the composition via centrifugal air classification to remove fines and coarse particles and to produce liquid-filled microelements having a density of 800 to 1500 g/liter; and, forming the CMP polishing layer by (i) converting the classified liquid-filled microelements into gas-filled microelements by heating them, then mixing them with a liquid polymer matrix forming material and casting or molding the resulting mixture to form a polymeric pad matrix, or (ii) combining the classified liquid-filled microelements directly with the liquid polymer matrix forming material, and casting or molding.

Abstract: A polishing layer analyzer is provided, wherein the analyzer is configured to detect macro inhomogeneities is polymeric sheets and to classify the polymeric sheets as either acceptable or suspect.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer is provided, including: providing a mold having a base with a negative of a groove pattern; providing a poly side (P) liquid component; providing an iso side (I) liquid component; providing a pressurized gas; providing an axial mixing device; introducing the poly side (P) liquid component, the iso side (I) liquid component and the pressurized gas to the axial mixing device to form a combination; discharging the combination from the axial mixing device at a velocity of 5 to 1,000 m/sec toward the base; allowing the combination to solidify into a cake; deriving the chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer from the cake; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer has a polishing surface with the groove pattern formed into the polishing surface; and wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of manufacturing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP polishing) layer for polishing substrates, such as semiconductor wafers comprising providing a composition of a plurality of liquid-filled microelements having a polymeric shell; classifying the composition via centrifugal air classification to remove fines and coarse particles and to produce liquid-filled microelements having a density of 800 to 1500 g/liter; and, forming the CMP polishing layer by (i) converting the classified liquid-filled microelements into gas-filled microelements by heating them, then mixing them with a liquid polymer matrix forming material and casting or molding the resulting mixture to form a polymeric pad matrix, or (ii) combining the classified liquid-filled microelements directly with the liquid polymer matrix forming material, and casting or molding.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer is provided, including: providing a mold having a base with a negative of a groove pattern; providing a poly side (P) liquid component; providing an iso side (I) liquid component; providing a pressurized gas; providing an axial mixing device; introducing the poly side (P) liquid component, the iso side (I) liquid component and the pressurized gas to the axial mixing device to form a combination; discharging the combination from the axial mixing device at a velocity of 10 to 300 m/sec toward the base; allowing the combination to solidify into a cake; deriving the chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer from the cake; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer has a polishing surface with the groove pattern formed into the polishing surface; and wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer is provided, including: providing a first polishing layer component of a first continuous non-fugitive polymeric phase having a plurality of periodic recesses; discharging a combination toward the first polishing layer component at a velocity of 5 to 1,000 m/sec, filling the plurality of periodic recesses with the combination; allowing the combination to solidify in the plurality of periodic recesses forming a second non-fugitive polymeric phase giving a composite structure; and, deriving the chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer from the composite structure, wherein the chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer has a polishing surface on the polishing side of the first polishing layer component; and wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer is provided, including: providing a first polishing layer component of a first continuous non-fugitive polymeric phase having a plurality of periodic recesses; discharging a combination toward the first polishing layer component at a velocity of 10 to 300 msec, filling the plurality of periodic recesses with the combination; allowing the combination to solidify in the plurality of periodic recesses forming a second non-fugitive polymeric phase giving a composite structure; and, deriving the chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer from the composite structure, wherein the chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer has a polishing surface on the polishing side of the first polishing layer component; and wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate.

Abstract: The invention is to a method of manufacturing a polishing pad suitable for planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The method includes applying droplets of a liquid polymer against a substrate to form a plurality of pores. The liquid polymer contains a nonionic surfactant, the nonionic surfactant has a concentration sufficient to facilitate growth of pores within the liquid polymer and an ionic surfactant has a concentration sufficient to limit growth of the pores within the liquid polymer. Curing the solid polymer forms a polishing pad with final size of the plurality of pores controlled by the concentration of nonionic surfactant and ionic surfactants.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing pad is provided, comprising: a chemical mechanical polishing layer having a polishing surface; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer is formed by combining (a) a poly side (P) liquid component, comprising: an amine-carbon dioxide adduct; and, at least one of a polyol, a polyamine and a alcohol amine; and (b) an iso side (I) liquid component, comprising: polyfunctional isocyanate; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer has a porosity of ?10 vol %; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer has a Shore D hardness of <40; and, wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing chemical mechanical polishing pads is provided, wherein an automated inspection system is configured to detect macro inhomogeneities is skived sheets and to classify the skived sheets as either acceptable or suspect; wherein the acceptable skived sheets are further processed to form polishing layers of chemical mechanical polishing pads.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing pad, polishing layer analyzer is provided, wherein the analyzer is configured to detect macro inhomogeneities is polymeric sheets and to classify the polymeric sheets as either acceptable or suspect.

Abstract: A polishing layer analyzer is provided, wherein the analyzer is configured to detect macro inhomogeneities is polymeric sheets and to classify the polymeric sheets as either acceptable or suspect.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing chemical mechanical polishing pads is provided, wherein an automated inspection system is configured to detect macro inhomogeneities is skived sheets and to classify the skived sheets as either acceptable or suspect; wherein the acceptable skived sheets are further processed to form polishing layers of chemical mechanical polishing pads.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing pad, polishing layer analyzer is provided, wherein the analyzer is configured to detect macro inhomogeneities is polymeric sheets and to classify the polymeric sheets as either acceptable or suspect.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing pad is provided, comprising: a chemical mechanical polishing layer having a polishing surface; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer is formed by combining (a) a poly side (P) liquid component, comprising: an amine-carbon dioxide adduct; and, at least one of a polyol, a polyamine and a alcohol amine; and (b) an iso side (I) liquid component, comprising: polyfunctional isocyanate; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer has a porosity of ?10 vol %; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer has a Shore D hardness of <40; and, wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a polishing pad suitable for planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The method obtains a liquid polyurethane material formed from an isocyanate-terminated molecule and a curative agent. The liquid polyurethane material has a Tgel temperature and contains fluid-filled polymeric microspheres. The fluid-filled polymeric microspheres are a blend of preexpanded and unexpanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres. The preexpanded and unexpanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres each have a Tstart temperature where diameter of the preexpanded and unexpanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres increases and a Tmax temperature where gas escapes to decrease diameter of the expanded and unexpanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres. The cured polyurethane matrix contains preexpanded and expanded fluid-filled polymeric microspheres.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer is provided, including: providing a mold having a base with a negative of a groove pattern; providing a poly side (P) liquid component; providing an iso side (I) liquid component; providing a pressurized gas; providing an axial mixing device; introducing the poly side (P) liquid component, the iso side (I) liquid component and the pressurized gas to the axial mixing device to form a combination; discharging the combination from the axial mixing device at a velocity of 5 to 1,000 m/sec toward the base; allowing the combination to solidify into a cake; deriving the chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer from the cake; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing pad polishing layer has a polishing surface with the groove pattern formed into the polishing surface; and wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate.

Abstract: The invention is to a method of manufacturing a polishing pad suitable for planarizing at least one of semiconductor, optical and magnetic substrates. The method includes applying droplets of a liquid polymer against a substrate to form a plurality of pores. The liquid polymer contains a nonionic surfactant, the nonionic surfactant has a concentration sufficient to facilitate growth of pores within the liquid polymer and an ionic surfactant has a concentration sufficient to limit growth of the pores within the liquid polymer. Curing the solid polymer forms a polishing pad with final size of the plurality of pores controlled by the concentration of nonionic surfactant and ionic surfactants.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing pad is provided, comprising: a chemical mechanical polishing layer having a polishing surface; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer is formed by combining (a) a poly side (P) liquid component, comprising: an amine-carbon dioxide adduct; and, at least one of a polyol, a polyamine and a alcohol amine; and (b) an iso side (I) liquid component, comprising: polyfunctional isocyanate; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer has a porosity of >10 vol %; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer has a Shore D hardness of <40; and, wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer is provided, including: providing a first polishing layer component of a first continuous non-fugitive polymeric phase having a plurality of periodic recesses; discharging a combination toward the first polishing layer component at a velocity of 10 to 300 msec, filling the plurality of periodic recesses with the combination; allowing the combination to solidify in the plurality of periodic recesses forming a second non-fugitive polymeric phase giving a composite structure; and, deriving the chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer from the composite structure, wherein the chemical mechanical polishing pad composite polishing layer has a polishing surface on the polishing side of the first polishing layer component; and wherein the polishing surface is adapted for polishing a substrate.