Polishing pad, composition for the manufacture thereof, and method of making and using

1. A polyurethane layer, comprising:

a polyurethane foam, wherein the polyurethane foam has

a density of about 640 to about 1200 kg/m 3 , and

a plurality of cells having an average diameter of about 20 to about 200 micrometers; and

particles of a hydrophobic polymer having a critical surface energy of less than 35 mN/m, having a median particle size of 3 to 100 micrometers and present in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt. % of the polyurethane layer;

wherein the polyurethane layer is capable of use in forming a polishing layer of a polishing pad to planarize a workpiece in conjunction with a chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus.

2. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the critical surface energy of the hydrophobic particles is 10 to 30 mN/m.

3. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the particles of a hydrophobic polymer have a median particle size of about 25 micrometers.

4. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer comprises fluorocarbon, fluorochlorocarbon, siloxane, ethylene, propylene, or butylene repeat units, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing repeat units.

5. The polyurethane layer of claim 4 , wherein the repeat unit is a fluorocarbon or a siloxane.

6. The polyurethane layer of claim 5 , wherein the repeat units are tetrafluoroethylene, fluoroethylene, trifluorochloroethylene, dimethylsiloxane, butylene, ethylene, propylene, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing monomers.

7. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic polymer is poly(tetrafluoroethylene).

8. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane foam is the reaction product of

an isocyanate-containing component;

an active hydrogen-containing component reactive with the isocyanate-containing component, and comprising a polyether polyol of the formula R[(OC n H 2n ) z OH] a , wherein R is hydrogen or a polyvalent hydrocarbon radical; a is 2-8 and equal to the valence of R; n in each occurrence is an integer from 2-4; and z in each occurrence is 2 to about 200;

a silicone surfactant, and

a catalyst for curing of the foam.

9. The polyurethane layer of claim 8 , wherein the polyurethane foam has been made by a process comprising mechanical frothing.

10. The polyurethane layer of claim 8 , wherein the isocyanate-containing component comprises a prepolymer that comprises the reaction product of a diisocyanate compound with glycol.

11. The polyurethane layer of claim 8 , wherein the polyether polyol is polytetramethylene ether glycol.

12. The polyurethane layer of claim 8 , wherein the active hydrogen-containing component further comprises a diol chain extender.

13. The polyurethane layer of claim 8 , wherein the surfactant is a nonhydrolyzable silicone glycol copolymer.

14. The polyurethane layer of claim 8 , wherein the catalyst is iron acetyl acetonate.

15. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane foam has a density of 640 to about 960 kg/m 3 .

16. A polishing pad, comprising a polishing layer formed from the polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the polishing pad is capable of use in planarizing a work piece in conjunction with a chemical-mechanical polishing apparatus.

17. The polishing pad of claim 16 , wherein the polishing pad exhibits a defect rate of less than 3500 based on a 0.25 μm cutoff in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process.

18. The polishing pad of claim 16 , wherein the polishing pad exhibits a defect rate of less than 20000 based on a 0.20 μm cutoff in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process.

19. The polishing pad of claim 16 , wherein a polishing surface of the polishing layer has been ground to remove a surface skin from the polishing surface.

20. The polishing pad of claim 16 , wherein a polishing surface of the polishing layer further comprises grooves.

21. The polishing pad of claim 16 , wherein the polishing pad is a composite pad comprising the polishing layer disposed on a substrate layer of another polyurethane foam or elastomeric material that is integrally bonded to the polishing layer.

22. The polishing pad of claim 16 , wherein the polishing layer of the polishing pad has been made from a sheet of the polyurethane layer, the sheet having a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 mm, and wherein the sheet has been punched into the shape of the polishing pad.

23. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the critical surface energy of the hydrophobic particles is 15-25 mN/m.

24. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the particles of a hydrophobic polymer have a median particle size of 5 to 50 micrometers.

25. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane layer has a thickness of 0.5 to 5.0 mm.

26. The polyurethane layer of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane layer is capable of forming a polishing layer adapted for polishing a microelectronic work piece or a work piece comprising a semiconductor base material.

27. A method of planarizing a surface of a work piece, comprising applying a particulate media against said surface, and rotating a polishing pad relative to said surface, wherein the polishing pad comprises a polishing layer comprising a polyurethane layer comprising:

a polyurethane foam, wherein the polyurethane foam has

a density of about 640 to about 1200 kg/m 3 , and

a plurality of cells having an average diameter of about 20 to about 200 micrometers; and

particles of a hydrophobic polymer having a critical surface energy of less than 35 mN/m, having a median particle size of 3 to 100 micrometers and present in an amount of 0.1 to 5 wt. % of the polyurethane layer.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein polishing is by means of a polishing machine employing a down force of 35 to 700 g/cm 2 , a platen speed of 25 to 400 rpm, a carrier speed of 25 to 400 rpm, and a media flow of 20 to 500 mL/min.