Examination method and examination assistant device for quartz product of semiconductor processing apparatus

1. In combination an examination assistant device and a part of a quartz product of a semiconductor processing apparatus, said device holding a process solution including an etching solution in contact with the part, the quartz product being a pole member having a plurality of grooves for supporting target substrates to be processed in the semiconductor processing apparatus,

the device being configured to treat, as an examination objective portion, a portion of the pole member present between a pair of concave portions, which are two of the grooves, the device comprising:

a pair of end plates configured to engage with the pair of concave portions;

a frame connecting the pair of end plates; and

a solution receiver disposed between the pair of end plates, the solution receiver having dimensions for storing the process solution in a predetermined amount to hold the process solution in contact with the examination objective portion to etch the examination objective portion.

2. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a pair of latches to attach the device to the pole member, such that the pole member is pinched between the pair of latches and the pair of end plates.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein each of the latches is pivotally supported on the frame and rotatable between a position to attach the device to the pole member and a position to detach the device from the pole member.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device is attached to the pole member by close-contact engagement of the pair of end plates with the pair of concave portions.

5. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising, in addition to the pair of end plates, a plurality of engaging plates to be inserted into the grooves, wherein the device is attached to the pole member by close-contact engagement of the pair of end plates and the engaging plates with the grooves.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the solution receiver is defined by a space in a container formed by the pair of end plates and the frame.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the pair of end plates and the frame consist essentially of fluoroplastic.

8. An examination method for examining part of a quartz product of a semiconductor processing apparatus by use of a process solution including an etching solution, the quartz product being a pole member having a plurality of grooves for supporting target substrates to be processed in the semiconductor processing apparatus, the method comprising:

preparing an examination assistant device configured to treat, as an examination objective portion, a portion of the pole member present between a pair of concave portions, which are two of the grooves, the device comprising a pair of end plates configured to engage with the pair of concave portions, a frame connecting the pair of end plates, and a solution receiver disposed between the pair of end plates, such that the solution receiver has dimensions for storing the process solution in a certain amount to hold the process solution in contact with the examination objective portion and to etch the examination objective portion,

placing the examination assistant device on the pole member such that the pair of end plates engages with the pair of concave portions and the examination objective portion is positioned within the solution receiver;

causing the process solution within the solution receiver to be in contact with the examination objective portion for a predetermined time, thereby performing etching on the examination objective portion; and

operating an analyzer to analyze the process solution used for the etching to identify a metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said identifying the metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion comprises:

evaporating and drying the process solution used for the etching to precipitate quartz and the metal impurity to form a precipitated product;

dissolving the precipitated product into a secondary process solution comprising an etching solution and set to be in an amount smaller than that of the process solution; and

operating the analyzer to analyze the secondary process solution containing the precipitated product dissolved therein.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said identifying the metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion comprises:

condensing the process solution used for the etching to form a condensed solution; and

operating the analyzer to analyze the condensed solution.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said identifying the metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion is performed by an inductively coupled plasma mass analyzer.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the predetermined time for performing the etching on the examination objective portion is determined to correspond to a target etching depth, with reference to a relationship prepared in advance between process time and quartz etching amount in etching quartz by the etching solution.

13. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said identifying the metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion comprises:

analyzing the process solution used for the etching to detect an amount of quartz and an amount of the metal impurity; and

using the amount of quartz and the amount of the metal impurity to estimate a concentration of the metal impurity in the examination objective portion.

14. An examination method for examining part of a quartz product of a semiconductor processing apparatus by use of a process solution including an etching solution, the quartz product being a reaction tube of the semiconductor processing apparatus, the method comprising:

preparing an examination assistant device configured to treat, as an examination objective portion, a portion of a curved surface of the reaction tube, the device comprising an annular member having a bottom surface to come into close contact with the curved surface, and configured to cooperate with the curved surface to form a solution receiver that surrounds the examination objective portion, and an elastic seal member disposed on the bottom surface, such that the annular member has dimensions for forming the solution receiver to store the process solution in a certain amount to hold the process solution in contact with the examination objective portion and to etch the examination objective portion;

placing the examination assistant device on the curved surface of the quartz reaction tube and forming the solution receiver such that the examination objective portion is positioned within the solution receiver;

causing the process solution within the solution receiver to be in contact with the examination objective portion for a predetermined time to perform etching on the examination objective portion; and

operating an analyzer to analyze the process solution used for the etching, to identify a metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the annular member consists essentially of fluoroplastic.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the annular member further comprising a magnet embedded therein.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said identifying the metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion comprises:

evaporating and drying the process solution used for the etching to precipitate quartz and the metal impurity to form a precipitated product;

dissolving the precipitated product into a secondary process solution comprising an etching solution and set to be in an amount smaller than that of the process solution; and

operating the analyzer to analyze the secondary process solution containing the precipitated product dissolved therein.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said identifying the metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion comprises:

condensing the process solution used for the etching to form a condensed solution; and

operating the analyzer to analyze the condensed solution.