Abstract: Compression molded articles employing circumferential surfaces having friction-enhancing patterns to contact substrates during wet chemical processes are disclosed. An article such as an annular body may be formed by a compression molding technique. By including a patterned surface as part of an outer circumferential surface of the annular body, frictional contact between the annular body and the substrate may be enhanced as friction-reducing fluids associated with a wet chemical processes may be directed away from the desired friction contact area between the annular body and the substrate. In this manner, frictional contact may be enhanced and the substrate may be effectively positioned and moved during the wet chemical process to improve the effectively of the process.

Abstract: Compression molded articles employing circumferential surfaces having friction-enhancing patterns to contact substrates during wet chemical processes are disclosed. An article such as an annular body may be formed by a compression molding technique. By including a patterned surface as part of an outer circumferential surface of the annular body, frictional contact between the annular body and the substrate may be enhanced as friction-reducing fluids associated with a wet chemical processes may be directed away from the desired friction contact area between the annular body and the substrate. In this manner, frictional contact may be enhanced and the substrate may be effectively positioned and moved during the wet chemical process to improve the effectively of the process.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first apparatus is provided. The first apparatus includes (1) a tank adapted to contain fluid; (2) at least one support component mounted in the tank and adapted to support a substrate in a supported position at least partially submerged in the fluid; (3) a transducer adapted to output sonic energy into the fluid; and (4) a reflector positioned at a side of the substrate and adapted to reflect the sonic energy toward an edge of the substrate so as to provide a 100% duty cycle. The reflector is positioned such that the reflector does not obstruct a path employed to load the substrate into the supported position and to unload the substrate from the supported position. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first apparatus is provided. The first apparatus includes (1) a tank adapted to contain fluid; (2) at least one support component mounted in the tank and adapted to support a substrate in a supported position at least partially submerged in the fluid; (3) a transducer adapted to output sonic energy into the fluid; and (4) a reflector positioned at a side of the substrate and adapted to reflect the sonic energy toward an edge of the substrate so as to provide a 100% duty cycle. The reflector is positioned such that the reflector does not obstruct a path employed to load the substrate into the supported position and to unload the substrate from the supported position. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for scrubbing a substrate's edge. The apparatus comprises a stationary surface (i.e., a surface that does not rotate in a direction in which the substrate rotates) that is positioned so as to contact an edge (e.g., a circumferential edge, an edge portion of the substrate's major surface or a beveled surface of the substrate's edge) such that as the substrate rotates, a dragging force is generated between the stationary surface and the rotating substrate. In a preferred aspect the apparatus is adapted to support a substrate in a generally vertical orientation, and the stationary surface is positioned along a lower portion of the substrate's edge, such that fluid applied to the major surface of the substrate will flow onto, and thereby rinse, the stationary surface. Such a preferred configuration also may allow a substrate to be loaded and unloaded without needing to move the stationary surface.