CMP Polishing Pad Composition for Low-Defect Planarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional polishing pads used in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes suffer from dishing and polishing defects, particularly with soft pads, which are ineffective in maintaining planarity and causing electrical failures in semiconductor devices.

Innovation Solution

A polishing pad with a limited content of inorganic components, specifically magnesium, is produced using an expandable solid foaming agent to form uniform pores, minimizing defects and maintaining polishing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a soft polishing pad is used to reduce polishing defects, then polishing defects such as micro-scratches and chatter marks are reduced, but dishing increases due to the flexible nature of the soft pad

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing defect reductionVSAvoidplanarity maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the polishing pad by controlling the inorganic component content (specifically magnesium) to be less than 90 ppm and adjusting the polymer composition ratios. This parameter optimization allows the pad to maintain appropriate softness for defect reduction while preventing excessive flexibility that causes dishing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material system consisting of polymer components (polyether polyol, polyester polyol, diisocyanate) combined with controlled inorganic additives. This composite structure enables the polishing pad to achieve both the softness needed for defect reduction and the structural stability required to maintain planarity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If inorganic components are contained in the polishing layer, then polishing performance is enhanced, but defects occur during the polishing process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing performanceVSAvoiddefect occurrence
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention precisely controls the concentration parameter of inorganic components (magnesium content) to be less than 90 ppm, which is below the defect-threshold concentration. This parameter optimization maintains the beneficial polishing performance while eliminating the harmful defect-causing effects of excessive inorganic content

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution prevents defects and maintains polishing efficiency by limiting inorganic component content and controlling pore size, ensuring uniformity and reducing dishing in semiconductor substrates.

Implementation Method 1

an expandable solid foaming agent is contained in a polishing composition for forming a polishing layer and expanded during a curing process to form a plurality of uniform pores in the polishing layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFoaming: Foam

Data Source

PatentEP4056314B1Polishing pad, method for producing the same and method of fabricating semiconductor device using the same
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SK ENPULSE CO LTD
  • EP4056314B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4056314B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4056314B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a polishing pad, a method for producing the same, and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device using the same. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent defects from occurring due to an inorganic component contained in a polishing layer during a polishing process, by limiting the content range of the inorganic component contained in the polishing layer. In addition, an unexpanded solid foaming agent is contained in a polishing composition for producing a polishing layer and is expanded during a curing process to form a plurality of uniform pores in the polishing layer, and the content range of the inorganic component contained in the polishing layer, thereby preventing defects from occurring during the polishing process.