Nickel-Phosphorus Disk Polishing Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

The demand for improved planarization and polishing of memory or rigid disks with reduced chemical oxygen demand in polishing compositions, due to increased storage capacity needs and environmental regulations, is not adequately met by conventional chemical-mechanical polishing methods.

Innovation Solution

A chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising alpha alumina, fumed alumina, silica, an oxidizing agent that oxidizes nickel-phosphorous, oxalic acid, optionally tartaric acid, a nonionic surfactant, a biocide, and water, with a pH of 2 to 4, is used to polish substrates, reducing chemical oxygen demand and enhancing surface finish.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional CMP compositions are used for polishing memory or rigid disks, then polishing capability is provided, but chemical oxygen demand increases and environmental compliance becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface finish qualityVSAvoidchemical oxygen demand
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the CMP slurry by using oxalic acid (0.1-5 wt%) and tartaric acid (0.1-2 wt%) instead of conventional organic additives, maintaining polishing effectiveness while reducing chemical oxygen demand to meet environmental standards

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs readily available, biodegradable organic acids (oxalic acid and tartaric acid) that provide the necessary chemical activity for polishing but are environmentally friendly and easily disposed of, replacing complex synthetic organic additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If the flying height of the magnetic head is decreased to improve recording density, then storage capacity increases, but the requirement for surface planarity becomes more stringent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording densityVSAvoidsurface planarity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite polishing system combining multiple abrasive types (alpha alumina, fumed alumina, silica) with specific size distributions and chemical additives that work synergistically to achieve superior surface planarity and finish quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs abrasives with different size ranges (0.01-10 micrometers) to address different surface defects at various scales, with finer particles filling in micro-irregularities while larger particles remove broader surface deviations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If miniaturization of memory or rigid disks is pursued to increase storage capacity, then device size decreases, but the polishing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisk sizeVSAvoidpolishing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent develops a universal CMP composition formulation that can effectively polish various disk sizes and nickel-phosphorous layer thicknesses, eliminating the need for different polishing recipes for different form factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 polishing composition effectively improves the surface finish and planarity of memory or rigid disks while reducing chemical oxygen demand, thus meeting environmental and performance requirements.

Implementation Method 1

an oxidizing agent that oxidizes nickel-phosphorous

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS8557137B2Polishing composition for nickel phosphorous memory disks
Publication Date: 2013.10.15 CMC MATERIALS INC

AI summary

The invention provides a chemical-mechanical polishing composition comprising alpha alumina, fumed alumina, silica, an oxidizing agent that oxidizes nickel-phosphorous, oxalic acid, optionally, tartaric acid, optionally, a nonionic surfactant, optionally, a biocide, and water. The invention also provides a method of chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate comprising contacting a substrate with a polishing pad and the chemical-mechanical polishing composition, moving the polishing pad and the polishing composition relative to the substrate, and abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate.