Abstract: A polishing pad has a polishing layer comprising a polymer matrix comprising the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer and a chlorine-free aromatic polyamine cure agent and chlorine-free microelements. The microelements can be expanded, hollow microelements. The microelements can have a specific gravity measured of 0.01 to 0.2. The microelements can have a volume averaged particle size of 1 to 120 or 15 to 30 micrometers. The polishing layer is chlorine free.

Abstract: A polishing pad has a polishing layer comprising a polymer matrix comprising the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer and a chlorine-free aromatic polyamine cure agent and chlorine-free microelements. The microelements can be expanded, hollow microelements. The microelements can have a specific gravity measured of 0.01 to 0.2. The microelements can have a volume averaged particle size of 1 to 120 or 15 to 30 micrometers. The polishing layer is chlorine free.

Abstract: A polishing pad for chemical mechanical polishing comprises a polishing layer that comprises a polymer matrix that is the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated prepolymer with a curative, wherein the polymer matrix has hard segments and soft segments wherein multi-lobed polymeric elements formed from pre-expanded polymeric microspheres are present in the polymer matrix. The polishing pad can be made by preparing a pre-blend of the isocyanate terminated prepolymer and the pre-expanded fluid filled polymeric microspheres in a stirred tank; pumping a portion of the pre-blend from a bottom of the stirred tank through a conduit and recycling to a top region of the stirred tank, mixing a portion of the pre-blend with the curative to form a mixture, casting the mixture in a mold, curing the mixture in the mold.

Abstract: A polishing pad has a polishing layer comprising a polymer matrix comprising the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer and a chlorine-free aromatic polyamine cure agent and chlorine-free microelements. The microelements can be expanded, hollow microelements. The microelements can have a specific gravity measured of 0.01 to 0.2. The microelements can have a volume averaged particle size of 1 to 120 or 15 to 30 micrometers. The polishing layer is chlorine free.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of CMP polishing a metal surface, such as a copper or tungsten containing metal surface in a semiconductor wafer, the methods comprising CMP polishing the substrate with a CMP polishing pad that has a top polishing surface in a polishing layer which is the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer and a curative component comprising a polyol curative having a number average molecular weight of 6000 to 15,000, and having an average of 5 to 7 hydroxyl groups per molecule and a polyfunctional aromatic amine curative, wherein the polishing layer would if unfilled have a water uptake of 4 to 8 wt. % after one week of soaking in deionized (DI) water at room temperature. The methods form coplanar metal and dielectric or oxide layer surfaces with low defectivity and a minimized degree of dishing.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of CMP polishing a metal surface, such as a copper or tungsten containing metal surface in a semiconductor wafer, the methods comprising CMP polishing the substrate with a CMP polishing pad that has a top polishing surface in a polishing layer which is the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer and a curative component comprising a polyol curative having a number average molecular weight of 6000 to 15,000, and having an average of 5 to 7 hydroxyl groups per molecule and a polyfunctional aromatic amine curative, wherein the polishing layer would if unfilled have a water to uptake of 4 to 8 wt. % after one week of soaking in deionized (DI) water at room temperature. The methods form coplanar metal and dielectric or oxide layer surfaces with low defectivity and a minimized degree of dishing.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of CMP polishing a metal surface, such as a copper or tungsten containing metal surface in a semiconductor wafer, the methods comprising CMP polishing the substrate with a CMP polishing pad that has a top polishing surface in a polishing layer which is the reaction product of an isocyanate terminated urethane prepolymer and a curative component comprising a polyol curative having a number average molecular weight of 6000 to 15,000, and having an average of 5 to 7 hydroxyl groups per molecule and a polyfunctional aromatic amine curative, wherein the polishing layer would if unfilled have a water uptake of 4 to 8 wt. % after one week of soaking in deionized (DI) water at room temperature. The methods form coplanar metal and dielectric or oxide layer surfaces with low defectivity and a minimized degree of dishing.