ELIMINATION OF PAD GLAZING FOR AL CMP

摘要

Polishing pad glazing during CMP of Al and Al alloys is eliminated or substantially reduced by utilizing a neutral polishing slurry containing a sufficient amount of a surfactant to prevent agglomeration of the abrasive particles with polishing by-products. Embodiments include CMP an Al or an Al alloy surface employing a slurry containing abrasive Al2O3 particles and about 0.02 to about 5 wt. % of a surfactant to prevent Al2O3 abrasive slurry particles from agglomerating with Al(OH)3 polishing by-products. Embodiments further include subsequent ex situ pad conditioning using an acid or base to dissolve, or a complexing agent to remove, Al(OH)3 polishing by-products.