Abstract: An erosion resistant member that may be used in the processing of a substrate in a plasma of a processing gas, comprises at least a portion that may be exposed to the plasma of the processing gas and that contains more than about 3% by weight of an oxide of a Group IIIB metal. The portion may also further contain a ceramic compound selected from silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron carbide, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, aluminum oxide, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method and assembly for recovering a metal from by-products produced from etching a metal (e.g., platinum, iridium, aluminum, etc.) in a plasma processing chamber. The method includes recovering from the plasma processing chamber a deposit of the by-products containing the metal. The deposit is dissolved in an acid, and the metal is recovered from the acid by inserting a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode into the acid and applying a difference in potential between the working and reference electrodes to cause current to flow through the working and counter electrodes and the metal to be removed from the liquid and deposit on the working electrode. The metal is removed from the working electrode to recover the metal.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant protective coating for an apparatus and method of processing a substrate in a chamber containing a plasma of a processing gas. The protective coating or sealant is used to line or coat inside surfaces of a reactor chamber that are exposed to corrosive processing gas that forms the plasma. The protective coating comprises at least one polymer resulting from a monomeric anaerobic chemical mixture having been cured in a vacuum in the absence of oxygen. The protective coating includes a major proportion of at least one methacrylate compound and a minor proportion of an activator compound which initiates the curing process of the monomeric anaerobic mixture in the absence of oxygen or air.

Abstract: A ceramic composition of matter for a process kit and a dielectric window of a reactor chamber wherein substrates are processed in a plasma of a processing gas. The ceramic composition of matter contains a ceramic compound (e.g. Al2O3) and an oxide of a Group IIIB metal (e.g., Y2O3). A method for processing (e.g. etching) a substrate in a chamber containing a plasma of a processing gas. The method includes passing processing power through a dielectric window which is formed from the ceramic composition of matter.

Abstract: A ceramic composition of matter for a process kit and a dielectric window of a reactor chamber wherein substrates are processed in a plasma of a processing gas. The ceramic composition of matter contains a ceramic compound (e.g. Al.sub.2 O.sub.3) and an oxide of a Group IIIB metal (e.g., Y.sub.2 O.sub.3). A method for processing (e.g. etching) a substrate in a chamber containing a plasma of a processing gas. The method includes passing processing power through a dielectric window which is formed from the ceramic composition of matter.

Abstract: A plasma etch reactor having interior surfaces facing the plasma composed of boron carbide, preferably principally composed of B.sub.4 C. The boron carbide may be a bulk sintered body or may be a layer of boron carbide coated on a chamber part. The boron carbide coating may be applied by thermal spraying, such as plasma spraying, by chemical vapor deposition, or by other layer forming technique such as a surface converting reaction. The boron carbide is highly resistant to high-density plasma etchants such as BCl.sub.3. The plasma sprayed coating is advantageously applied to only a portion of an anodized aluminum wall. The boron carbide may be sprayed over the exposed portion of the aluminum over which the anodization has been removed. A band of the aluminum substrate at the transition between the anodization and the boron carbide is roughened prior to anodization so that the boron carbide sticks to the correspondingly roughened surface of the anodization.

Abstract: A composite silicon carbide article and its method of making in which a surface layer or film of silicon carbide is deposited, for example by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), over a free standing silicon carbide substrate, as is formed by bulk methods such as sintering and hot pressing. The article is advantageously used in a plasma reactor, especially an oxide etcher for semiconductor fabrication, and may be any of several parts including the chamber wall, chamber roof, or collar around the wafer. The bulk SiC provides an inexpensive and strong support structure of perhaps a complex shape while the CVD SiC film has advantages for plasma processing and may be tailored to particular uses. The composite SiC structure is particularly useful in that the electrical conductivities of the bulk SiC and film SiC may be separately controlled so as to provide, among many possibilities, a grounding plane, a window for RF electromagnetic radiation, or both.