METHODS OF REPAIRING DAMAGED INSULATING MATERIALS BY INTRODUCING CARBON INTO THE LAYER OF INSULATING MATERIAL

摘要

One illustrative method disclosed herein includes providing a layer of a carbon-containing insulating material having a nominal carbon concentration, performing at least one process operation on the carbon-containing insulating material that results in the formation of a reduced-carbon-concentration region in the layer of carbon-containing insulating material, wherein the reduced-carbon-concentration region has a carbon concentration that is less than the nominal carbon concentration, performing a carbon-introduction process operation to introduce carbon atoms into at least the reduced-carbon-concentration region and thereby define a carbon-enhanced region having a carbon concentration that is greater than the carbon concentration of the reduced-carbon-concentration region and, after introducing the carbon atoms, performing a heating process on at least the carbon-enhanced region.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing a layer of a carbon-containing insulating material having a nominal carbon concentration; performing at least one process operation on said carbon-containing insulating material that results in the formation of a reduced-carbon-concentration region in said layer of carbon-containing insulating material, wherein said reduced-carbon-concentration region has a carbon concentration that is less than said nominal carbon concentration; performing a carbon-introduction process operation to introduce carbon atoms into at least said reduced-carbon-concentration region and thereby define a carbon-enhanced region having a carbon concentration that is greater than said carbon concentration of said reduced-carbon-concentration region; and after introducing said carbon atoms, performing a heating process on said carbon-containing insulating material.