• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.05b
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• pp.30-33
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• 2001

Chemical mechanical polishing(CMP) process has been widely used to planarize dielectrics, which can apply to employed in integrated circuits for sub-micron technology. Despite the increased use of CMP process, it is difficult to accomplish the global planarization of free-defects in inter-level dielectrics (ILD). Especially, defects like micro-scratch lead to severe circuit failure, and affects yield. CMP slurries can contain particles exceeding $1{\mu}m$ size, which could cause micro-scratch on the wafer surface. The large particles in these slurries may be caused by particle agglomeration in slurry supply line. To reduce these defects, slurry filtration method has been recommended in oxide CMP. In this work, we have studied the effects of filtration and the defect trend as a function of polished wafer count using various filters in inter-metal dielectric(IMD)-CMP. The filter installation in CMP polisher could reduce defect after IMD-CMP. As a result of micro-scratches formation, it shows that slurry filter plays an important role in determining consumable pad lifetime.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.05b
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• pp.34-37
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• 2001

As the integrated circuit device shrinks to smaller dimensions, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process was required for the global planarization of inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer with free-defect. However, as the inter-metal dielectrics (IMD) layer gets thinner, micro-scratches are becoming as major defects. Micro-scratches are generated by agglomerated slurry, solidified and attached slurry in pipe line of slurry supply system. To prevent agglomerated slurry particle from inflow, we installed 0.5${\mu}m$ POU (point of use) filter, which is depth-type filter and has 80% filtering efficiency for the $1.0{\mu}m$ size particle. In this paper, we studied the relationship between defect generation and pad count to understand the exact efficiency of the slurry filtration, and to find out the appropriate pad usage. Our preliminary results showed that it is impossible to prevent defect-causing particles perfectly through the depth-type filter. Thus, we suggest that it is necessary to optimize the flow rate of slurry to overcome depth type filters weak-point, and to install the high spray of de-ionized Water (DIW) with high pressure.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.533-537
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• 2006

The effects of binary solvent mixtures with various ratios of toluene and ethanol on the properties of slurries and green sheets were investigated. Viscosity of slurry was changed by varying the ratio of solvent mixture which affected the solubility of binder. The relative solvency behavior of a solvent mixture could be predicted with the Hildebrand solubility parameter(${\delta}$) and hydrogen bonding index( ${\gamma}$). The minimum viscosity, the best dispersion of binder, was reached at the composition of toluene:ethanol=4:6, which corresponded to our forecast. The mechanical properties of green sheets related to evaporation of solvents were influenced by the composition of the solvent mixture. At the azeotrope the skin was formed on a drying cast during the drying process because of fast evaporation. At a range of concentrations over 50wt% toluene, green sheets could not be fully dried at low temperature due to excessive toluene. The mechanical properties of green sheets were excellent at the azeotrope-like composition of toluene:ethanol=4:6 which has a little excess of toluene over the azeotrope.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.707-710
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• 2004

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process has been widely used to planarize dielectric layers, which can be applied to the integrated circuits for sub-micron technology. Despite the increased use of CMP process, it is difficult to accomplish the global planarization of in the defect-free inter-level dielectrics (ILD). In this paper, we have investigated slurry properties and CMP performance of silicon dioxide (oxide) as a function of different temperature of slurry. Thermal effects on the silica slurry properties such as pH, particle size, conductivity and zeta potential were studied. Moreover, the relationship between the removal rate (RR) with WIWNU and slurry properties caused by changes of temperature were investigated. Therefore, the understanding of these temperature effects provides a foundation to optimize an oxide CMP Process for ULSI multi-level interconnection technology.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.557-561
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• 2001

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process has been widely used to planarize dielectric layers, which can be applied to the integraded circuits for sub-micron technology. Despite the increased use of CMP process, it is difficult to accomplish the global planarization of in the defect-free inter-level dielectrics (ILD). Especially, defects such as micro-scratch lead to severe circuit failure which affect yield. CMP slurries can contain particles exceeding 1㎛ in size, which could cause micro-scratch on the wafer surface. The large particles in these slurries may be caused by particles agglomeration in slurry supply line. To reduce these defects, slurry filtration method has been recommended in oxide CMP. In this work, we have studied the effects of filtration and the defect trend as a function of polished wafer count using various filters in inter-metal dielectrics(IMD)-CMP process. The filter installation in CMP polisher could reduce defects after IMD-CMP process. As a result of micro-scratch formation, it is shown that slurry filter plays an important role in determining consumable pad lifetime. The filter lifetime is dominated by the defects. We have concluded that slurry filter lifetime is fixed by the degree of generating defects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.132-135
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• 2004

현재 사용 되고 있는 Cu CMP slurry에서 pH 적정제의 역할은 slurry의 연마 거동을 결정 하는 중요한 요소이다. 일반적으로 사용 되고 있는 적정제로는 $NH_4OH$, KOH가 있다. 구리 CMP용 슬러리내에서 CMP 공정 중에 과산화수소 $(H_2O_2)$의 영향에 관한 연구는 있으나, 과산화수소의 농도 (vol %) 변화에 따라서 pH적정제가 하는 역할과 반응이 CMP 공정중에 미치는 영향에 관해서 연구된 바 없다. 이 논문에서는 pH 적정제가 과산화수소의 농도에 따라서 산성, 중성, 염기성에서 어떠한 변화를 일으키는지에 관해서 dynamic etch rate과 removal rate을 비교 하였고, static etch rate을 이용하여 Cu 표면이 etching 되는 속도를 비교 하였다. 그 결과, 산성과 중성에서는 $NH_4OH$와 KOH의 경향성은 비슷하였으나, 염기성에서는 KOH를 첨가한 경우 변화가 나타나지 않았다. 따라서, pH가 염기성으로 갈수록 과산화수소의 저 농도에서 $NH_4OH$의 영향이 더 커짐을 알 수 있었다.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.07b
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• pp.1308-1311
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• 2004

It is very important that get polishing characteristic that to be stable that accomplish planarization of high efficiency in chemical mechanical polishing, and there is repeatability Groove of pad causes much effects in flow of slurry among various factors that influence in polishing characteristic, is expected to cause change of lubrication state and polishing characteristic in contact between wafer and pad. Therefore, divided factors of pad groove by groove pattern, groove profile, groove dimensions. This research wishes to study effect that dimension of pad groove gets in polishing performance. When changed dimension (width, depth, pitch of groove) of groove, measured change of removal rate and friction force. According as groove dimension changes, could confirm that removal rate and friction force change. While result of this experiment studies effect of pad groove in CMP, it is expected to become small help.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07a
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• pp.335-338
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• 2003

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process has been widely used to planarize dielectric layers, which can be applied to the integrated circuits for sub-micron technology. Despite the increased use of CMP process, it is difficult to accomplish the global planarization of in the defect-free inter-layer dielectrics (ILD). Especially, defects such as micro-scratch lead to severe circuit failure which affect yield. CMP slurries can contain particles exceeding $1\;{\mu}m$ in size, which could cause micro-scratch on the wafer surface. In this paper, we have studied aging effect the of CMP sin as a function of particle size. We prepared and compared the self-developed silica slurry by adding of abrasives before and after annealing. As our preliminary experiment results, we could be obtained the relatively stable slurry characteristics comparable to original silica slurry in the slurry aging effect.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.979-986
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• 2001

This paper was researched the effect of slurry stability on the mechanical and electrical property of the porcelain insulator with various raw materials such as feldspar, quartz, clay and l7wt% alumina. The slurry was fabricated after ball milling the mixed raw materials. Green compacts were made by the extrusion and were sintered at 1300$\^{C}$ for 60min in the tunnel kiln. All of the specimens were densified 96% of the theoretical density. The 3-point flexural strength($\sigma$$\_$B/) of the specimen stabilized slurry pH 7.8 was 1650 k9/㎠ and the vickers hardness(Hv) and the fracture toughness(K$\_$IC/) were 27.5 GPa and 2.2 MPa$.$m$\^$$\sfrac{1}{2}$/, respectively. The mechanical properties of the specimen stabilized slurry PH 9.3 were 1716 kg/㎠($\sigma$$\_$B/), 27.6 GPa(Hv) and 3.0 MPa$.$m$\^$$\sfrac{1}{2}$/(K$\_$IC/), respectively. The dielectric strength was increased from 8.3kV/mm to 13.2kV/mm as the increase of the slurry pH from 7.8 to 9.3. Therefore the physical properties of the specimen stabilized slurry pH 9.3 were improved.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.39-42
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• 2002

Recently, CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) technology has been widely used for global planarization of multi-level interconnection for ULSI applications. However, COO (cost of ownership) and COC (cost of consumables) were relatively increased because of expensive slurry. In this paper, we have studied the possibility of recycle of reused silica slurry in order to reduce the costs of CMP slurry. The post-CMP thickness and within-wafer non-uniformity(WIWNU) were measured as a function of different slurry composition. As a experimental result, the performance of reused slurry with annealed silica abrasive of 2 wt% contents was showed high removal rate and low non-uniformity. Therefore, we propose two-step CMP process as follows In the first-step CMP, we can polish the thick and rough film surface using remaked slurry, and then, in the second-step CMP, we can polish the thin film and fine pattern using original slurry. In summary, we can expect the saving of high costs of slurry.