Systems and methods for removing microfeature workpiece surface defects

1. A method for processing a microfeature workpiece, comprising:

adding a first layer of material to the microfeature workpiece;

buffing the microfeature workpiece to remove surface defects from a surface of the first layer of material on the microfeature workpiece by engaging a buffing medium with the surface when the microfeature workpiece is disposed on a first platen and moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the buffing medium relative to the other, the buffing medium having a first hardness;

after buffing the microfeature workpiece, and before adding a second layer of material to the microfeature workpiece, moving the microfeature workpiece to a second platen different from the first platen and performing a chemical-mechanical polishing process by engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad and removing material from the first layer of material, the polishing pad having a second hardness greater than the first hardness; and

adding the second layer of material to the microfeature workpiece after performing the chemical-mechanical polishing process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein removing surface defects includes removing a layer having a thickness of less than ten microns from the microfeature workpiece.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece includes engaging the microfeature workpiece before adding the second layer of material to the surface of the microfeature workpiece from which the surface defects were removed.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein engaging a buffing medium includes engaging a buffing pad having a Shore D hardness of about zero.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad includes engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a Shore D hardness of about 20 or higher.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad includes engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a Shore D hardness of from about 50 to about 60.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing additional surface defects from the surface of the microfeature workpiece after engaging the microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad, wherein removing additional surface defects includes engaging the buffing medium with the surface and moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the buffing medium relative to the other.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the buffing medium is a first buffing medium and wherein the method further comprises:

engaging a second buffing medium with the surface of the microfeature workpiece after engaging the microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad, the second buffing medium having a hardness less than the second hardness; and

removing additional surface defects by moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the second buffing medium relative to the other.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein buffing the microfeature workpiece includes removing particulate contaminants, or surface scratches, or both.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein buffing the microfeature workpiece includes removing particulate contaminants carried by the surface.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein buffing the microfeature workpiece includes removing particulate contaminants embedded in the surface.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein buffing the microfeature workpiece includes removing constituents that would otherwise break away from the microfeature workpiece when contacted with the polishing pad.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein buffing the microfeature workpiece from a surface of a microfeature workpiece includes removing surface defects from an edge surface of the microfeature workpiece.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein buffing the microfeature workpiece from a surface of a microfeature workpiece includes removing surface defects from a major surface of the microfeature workpiece.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the buffing medium includes a buffing pad, and wherein the method further comprises disposing a slurry between the microfeature workpiece and the buffing pad.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring the workpiece directly from the buffing medium to the polishing pad after removing surface defects from a surface of the workpiece.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the microfeature workpiece from the buffing medium to the polishing pad after removing surface defects from a surface of the microfeature workpiece by placing the microfeature workpiece in a transfer container and transferring the microfeature workpiece in the transfer container to the polishing pad.

18. A method for processing a microfeature workpiece, comprising:

adding a first layer of material to the microfeature workpiece;

rehabilitating a surface of the microfeature workpiece to remove surface defects from a surface of the first layer of material on the microfeature workpiece by buffing the microfeature workpiece via engaging a buffing medium with the surface and moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the buffing medium relative to the other when the microfeature workpiece is disposed on a first platen, the buffing medium having a first hardness;

after rehabilitating the surface, and before adding a second layer of material to the microfeature workpiece, moving the microfeature workpiece to a second platen different from the first platen and performing a chemical-mechanical polishing process by engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad and removing material from the microfeature workpiece, the polishing pad having a second hardness greater than the first hardness; and

adding the second layer of material to the microfeature workpiece after performing the chemical-mechanical polishing process.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface includes removing a layer having a thickness of less than ten microns from the microfeature workpiece.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein engaging a buffing medium includes engaging a buffing pad having a Shore D hardness of about zero.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad includes engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a Shore D hardness of about 20 or higher.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad includes engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a Shore D hardness of from about 50 to about 60.

23. The method of claim 18 , further comprising further rehabilitating the surface of the microfeature workpiece after engaging the microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad, wherein further rehabilitating the surface includes engaging the buffing medium with the surface and moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the buffing medium relative to the other.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the buffing medium is a first buffing medium and wherein the method further comprises:

engaging a second buffing medium with the surface of the microfeature workpiece after engaging the microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad, the second buffing medium having a hardness less than the second hardness; and

further rehabilitating the surface by moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the second buffing medium relative to the other.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface includes removing particulate contaminants or surface scratches, or both.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface includes removing particulate contaminants carried by the surface.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface includes removing particulate contaminants embedded in the surface.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface includes removing constituents that would otherwise break away from the microfeature workpiece when contacted with the polishing pad.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface of a microfeature workpiece includes removing surface defects from an edge surface of the microfeature workpiece.

30. The method of claim 18 wherein rehabilitating a surface of a microfeature workpiece includes removing surface defects from a major surface of the microfeature workpiece.

31. The method of claim 18 wherein the buffing medium includes a polishing pad, and wherein the method further comprises disposing a slurry between the microfeature workpiece and the buffing pad.

32. A method for processing a microfeature workpiece having a first exposed surface, wherein the first exposed surface has not undergone a CMP process, comprising:

buffing the first exposed surface of the microfeature workpiece to remove surface defects from the first exposed surface by engaging a buffing medium with the first exposed surface when the microfeature workpiece is disposed on a first platen, the buffing medium having a first hardness;

after buffing the first exposed surface, and before adding additional material to the microfeature workpiece, moving the microfeature workpiece to a second platen different from the first platen and performing a chemical-mechanical polishing process on the first exposed surface by engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad and removing material from the first exposed surface to create a second exposed surface different from the first exposed surface, the polishing pad having a second hardness greater than the first hardness; and

adding the additional material to the microfeature workpiece after performing the chemical-mechanical polishing process.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein engaging a buffing medium includes engaging a buffing pad having a Shore D hardness of about zero.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad includes engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a Shore D hardness of about 20 or higher.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad includes engaging the microfeature workpiece with a polishing pad having a Shore D hardness of from about 50 to about 60.

36. The method of claim 32 , further comprising buffing the second exposed surface to remove additional surface defects from the second exposed surface of the microfeature workpiece after engaging the microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad.

37. The method of claim 36 , wherein removing additional surface defects includes engaging the buffing medium with the second exposed surface and moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the buffing medium relative to the other.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the buffing medium is a first buffing medium and wherein the method further comprises:

engaging a second buffing medium with the second exposed surface of the microfeature workpiece after engaging the microfeature workpiece with the polishing pad, the second buffing medium having a hardness less than the second hardness; and

removing additional surface defects by moving at least one of the microfeature workpiece and the second buffing medium relative to the other.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein buffing the first exposed surface includes removing particulate contaminants carried by the first exposed surface and/or at least partially embedded in the first exposed surface, or surface scratches, or both.

40. The method of claim 32 , further comprising removing surface defects from an edge surface of the microfeature workpiece.

41. The method of claim 32 , wherein buffing the first exposed surface includes removing surface defects from a major surface of the microfeature workpiece.

42. The method of claim 32 wherein moving the microfeature workpiece to a second platen includes placing the microfeature workpiece in a transfer container and transferring the microfeature workpiece in the transfer container to the second platen.