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Etching of Polymer

Stripping of polymer is often done by wet chemistry in a solvent that dissolves the given polymer. If wet chemistry cannot be used or a more controled etch of the polymer is needed a plasma system is used instead. Plasma ashers are design for removing polymers in primarily oxygen plasmas. It you need a more directional etch with a masking material RIE2 or ASE can be used.

Polymer Etch by ASE

Plasma asher 1

Plasma asher 2

Etch of Photo Resist using RIE

Wet Polymer Etch

Comparison of methods for polymer etching

	ASE	Plasma asher 1	Plasma asher 2	RIE2	Wet Polymer Etch
Generel description	The ASE was originally for deep Si etch but has now been turned into a polymer etcher. It should be used for pattering polymers	The plasma asher is good for dry stripping polymers. It can also be used for descum and pattering af polymers.	The plasma asher is good for dry stripping polymers. It can also be used for descum and pattering af polymers. This plasma asher is for Si wafers without metals.	RIE2 can etch polymers in almost the same way as the ASE. We prefer the you use the ASE but there can be situations where the sample will not be allowed in the ASE (e.g. if there are metal on). If you think you need to use the RIE2 for polymer etching you need to get a special permission from the plasma group, see contact info on the RIE2 page in LabManager.	Wet polymer etch is used for stripping a resist/polymer when it is no longer needed. E.g. removing resist masks.
Etch direction	Process dependant: Isotropic to anisotropic (vertical to sample surface)	Isotropic	Isotropic	Process dependant: Almost isotropic to anisotropic (vertical to sample surface)	Isotropic
Possible etch reactances	Oxygen plasma Oxygen plasma mixed with CH4 CF4 SF6	Oxygen plasma Oxygen plasma mixed with CF4	Oxygen plasma	Oxygen plasma Oxygen plasma mixed with CF4 SF6	The different solvents available at Danchip, such as Acetone 1165 Remover ?
Substrate size	# small samples # 50 mm wafers # 100 mm wafers # 150 mm wafers	# small samples # 50 mm wafers # 100 mm wafers # 150 mm wafers	# small samples # 50 mm wafers # 100 mm wafers # 150 mm wafers	# small samples # 50 mm wafers # 100 mm wafers # 150 mm wafers	# small samples # 50 mm wafers # 100 mm wafers # 150 mm wafers
Allowed materials	Allowed material 1 Allowed material 2	Allowed material 1 Allowed material 2 Allowed material 3	Allowed material 1 Allowed material 2	Allowed material 1 Allowed material 2	Allowed material 1 Allowed material 2