A polishing method capable of removing waviness on a resin-coated surface having a curved surface is provided. The resin-coated surface having the curved surface is polished by using a polishing pad having a polishing surface formed of a hard resin layer.

Provided is a method that is for polishing a silicon wafer by a polishing device using a carrier holding the silicon wafer, and that can reduce wear on the carrier. In this polishing method, a polishing liquid used in the polishing device contains 0.1-5 mass %, in terms of the concentration of silica, silica particles comprising: silica particles (A) having an average primary particle size of 4-30 nm as measured by BET, and having an (X2/X1) ratio of 1.2-1.8, where X2 (nm) represents an average particle size along the major axis thereof as calculated from a perspective projection image obtained using an electron beam, and X1 (nm) represents the average primary particle size as measured by BET; and silica particles (B) having an average primary particle size of more than 30 nm but not more than 50 nm as measured by BET, and having a (X2/X1) ratio of 1.2-1.8, where X2 (nm) represents an average particle size along the major axis thereof as calculated from a perspective projection image obtained using an electron beam, and X1 (nm) represents the average primary particle size as measured by BET, wherein the mass ratio of the silica particles (A) to the silica particles (B) is 100:0 to 85:15.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide colloidal silica for metal polishing that is capable of achieving a high polishing rate. This problem can be achieved by a colloidal silica for metal polishing, comprising a silica particle having a surface on which a functional group having at least one carboxyl group is immobilized by covalent bonding.

A polishing composition that is for use in CMP polishing and that makes it possible to minimize the occurrence of defects. A polishing composition comprising silica particles, a basic nitrogen-containing organic compound, and water serving as a solvent, wherein the composition exhibits an Rsp value of the following Formula (1) of more than 0.7 and 6 or less as calculated from values measured by pulse NMR: Rsp=(Rav−Rb)/(Rb) . . . (1) (wherein Rsp is an index of water affinity; Rav is the reciprocal of the relaxation time of the polishing composition; and Rb is the reciprocal of the relaxation time of the water serving as a solvent of the polishing composition).

A substrate processing apparatus includes a polishing section and a transport section. The polishing section has a first polishing unit, a second polishing unit, and a transport mechanism. The first polishing unit has a first polishing apparatus and a second polishing apparatus. The second polishing unit has a third polishing apparatus and a fourth polishing apparatus. Each of the first to fourth polishing apparatuses has a polishing table to which a polishing pad is mounted, a top ring, and auxiliary units that perform a process on the polishing pad during polishing. Around the polishing table, a pair of auxiliary unit mounting units for mounting the respective auxiliary units in a left-right switchable manner with respect to a straight line connecting a swing center of the top ring and a center of rotation of the polishing table is provided at respective positions symmetrical with respect to the straight line.

In a method for manufacturing an SiC wafer, a work-affected layer removal step of removing a work-affected layer generated in a surface and inside of an SiC wafer is performed, so that the SiC wafer from which the work-affected layer is at least partially removed is manufactured. In the work-affected layer removal step, the SiC wafer having undergone a polishing step is etched with an etching amount of 10 μm or less by being heated under Si vapor pressure so that the work-affected layer is removed. In the polishing step, an oxidizer is used to produce a reaction product in the SiC wafer while abrasive grains are used to remove the reaction product. In the SiC wafer having undergone the polishing step, an internal stress caused by the work-affected layer is present at a location inner than the work-affected layer, and an internal stress of the SiC wafer is reduced by removing the work-affected layer in the work-affected layer removal step.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide apparatus for collecting and reuse polishing fluids and methods related thereto. In particular, the apparatus and methods provided herein feature a polishing fluid collection system used to collect and reuse polishing fluids dispensed during the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of a substrate in an electronic device manufacturing process. In one embodiment, a polishing fluid catch basin assembly includes a catch basin sized to surround at least a portion of a polishing platen and to be spaced apart therefrom. The catch basin features an outer wall, an inner wall disposed radially inward of the outer wall, and a base portion connecting the inner wall to the outer wall. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the base portion collectively define a trough. A radially inward facing surface of the inner wall is defined by an arc radius which is greater than a radius of the polishing platen the catch basin is sized to surround.

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide apparatus for collecting and reuse polishing fluids and methods related thereto. In particular, the apparatus and methods provided herein feature a polishing fluid collection system used to collect and reuse polishing fluids dispensed during the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) of a substrate in an electronic device manufacturing process. In one embodiment, a polishing fluid catch basin assembly includes a catch basin sized to surround at least a portion of a polishing platen and to be spaced apart therefrom. The catch basin features an outer wall, an inner wall disposed radially inward of the outer wall, and a base portion connecting the inner wall to the outer wall. The outer wall, the inner wall, and the base portion collectively define a trough. A radially inward facing surface of the inner wall is defined by an arc radius which is greater than a radius of the polishing platen the catch basin is sized to surround.

A polishing method includes polishing a substrate with a CMP polishing liquid. The substrate includes a barrier metal, a metal film, and a silicon dioxide film. The metal film includes one or more of copper, copper alloy, copper oxide, or copper alloy oxide. The CMP polishing liquid includes abrasive particles, a metal oxide dissolving agent, an oxidizing agent, a water-soluble polymer, and an alkali metal ion. The pH of the CMP polishing liquid is 7.0 to 11.0. Surface potentials of the abrasive particles and the metal film have the same sign and a product of the surface potential (mV) of the abrasive particles and the surface potential (mV) of the metal film is 300 to 980 mV.sup.2 upon polishing the substrate with the CMP polishing liquid.

A polishing method includes polishing a substrate with a CMP polishing liquid. The substrate includes a barrier metal, a metal film, and a silicon dioxide film. The metal film includes one or more of copper, copper alloy, copper oxide, or copper alloy oxide. The CMP polishing liquid includes abrasive particles, a metal oxide dissolving agent, an oxidizing agent, a water-soluble polymer, and an alkali metal ion. The pH of the CMP polishing liquid is 7.0 to 11.0. Surface potentials of the abrasive particles and the metal film have the same sign and a product of the surface potential (mV) of the abrasive particles and the surface potential (mV) of the metal film is 300 to 980 mV.sup.2 upon polishing the substrate with the CMP polishing liquid.