Abstract: The useful lifetime of a fixed abrasive article is extended and wafer-to-wafer uniformity enhanced by preconditioning a fixed abrasive element and/or periodic conditioning after initial wafer polishing. Embodiments include preconditioning by forced removal of an upper binder-rich portion of the fixed abrasive elements to expose abrasive particles having a similar concentration as the bulk concentration at about one half the height of the elements. Embodiments further include periodic conditioning after initial wafer polishing by forced removal of an upper portion of the fixed abrasive elements.

Abstract: In advanced electrolytic polish (AEP) method, a metal wafer (10) acts as an anodic electrodes and another metal plate (65) is used as a cathodic electrode. A voltage differential is applied to the anode and cathode under a predetermined anodic dissolution current density. This causes a reaction that provides a planarized surface on the metal wafers. Additives are included in the electrolyte solution (55) which adsorb onto the wafer surface urging a higher removal rate at higher spots and a lower removal rate at lower spots. Also, in another embodiment of the present invention is a pulsed-electrolytic process (260) in which positive and negative potentials are applied to the anodic and cathodic electrodes alternately, further encouraging surface planarization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning the interior of a vacuum chamber of a plasma reactor which includes introducing an etchant gas through inlet ports into the vacuum chamber and applying RF power to a RF plasma excitation apparatus so as to ignite and sustain a plasma within the chamber. The frequency of the RF signal is less than 1 MHz. Alternately, an apparatus and method for cleaning the aforementioned vacuum chamber where at least two different RF power signals can be employed. In one embodiment of this alternate method the step of applying RF power involves providing a first and second RF signal, where each signal exhibits a different frequency. The first RF signal is of a higher frequency and provided to ignite a plasma within the chamber, and thereafter terminated, whereas the second RF signal is of a lower frequency, less than 1 MHz, and provided to sustain the plasma.