Laser induced dry chemical etching of metals.

摘要

Disclosed is a method of etching a metallized substrate by laser radiation. The substrate is exposed to a selected gas which spontaneously reacts with the metal forming a solid reaction product with the metal by a partial consumption of the metal. A beam of radiation of a wavelength suitable for absorption by the reaction product and/or by the metal thereunder is applied in a desired pattern to vaporize the reaction product and thereby selectively etch the metal.