Method to increase yield and reduce down time in semiconductor fabrication units by preconditioning components using sub-aperture reactive atom etch

1. A method for preconditioning a surface of a graphite component to minimize particulation from the component during subsequent use as a part in a semiconductor fabrication unit, the method comprising the steps:

providing the graphite component that is shaped to be subsequently integrally incorporated into the semiconductor fabrication unit;

providing a plasma processing chamber having a plasma torch, wherein the plasma torch is constructed and arranged to generate a plasma discharge at a rate of discharge;

placing the graphite component within the plasma processing chamber, wherein the plasma torch is directed at the graphite component;

subjecting the graphite component to reactive atom plasma processing with the plasma discharge from the plasma torch, such that substantially all graphite particulates located on the surface of the graphite component are removed from the surface; and

controlling the rate of discharge from the plasma torch through the use of a computer numerical control system,

removing the graphite component from the plasma processing chamber; and

providing the graphite component for subsequent use in the semiconductor fabrication unit.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the graphite component to a subsequent preconditioning step, wherein the subsequent precondition step comprises:

placing the graphite component in a container filled with a liquid medium, wherein the container is in communication with an ultrasonic/megasonic generator connected to a transducer; and

subjecting the graphite component to energy waves, wherein the energy waves have a frequency.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the frequency of the energy waves is 40 kHz.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the frequency of the energy waves is 80 kHz.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the liquid medium is selected from the group consisting of Freon, hydrocarbons, and water.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising cascading the liquid medium away from the graphite component and out of the container.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising filtering the liquid medium to remove one or more detached particulates and provide a filtered liquid medium, and recycling at least a portion of the filtered liquid medium back into the container containing the graphite component.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising adding a new portion of the liquid medium to the filtered liquid medium.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising soaking the component in water, drying the component, heating the component in an oven, and blowing the component off with an inert gas.

10. A method for preconditioning a surface of a densified silicon carbide component to minimize particulation from the component during subsequent use as a part in a semiconductor fabrication unit, the method comprising the steps:

providing a densified silicon carbide component that is shaped to be subsequently integrally incorporated into the semiconductor fabrication unit;

providing a plasma processing chamber having a plasma torch and a discharge direction, wherein the plasma torch is constructed and arranged to generate a plasma discharge at a rate of discharge;

placing the densified silicon carbide component within the plasma processing chamber, wherein the plasma torch is directed at the densified silicon carbide component;

subjecting the densified silicon carbide component to reactive atom plasma processing with the plasma discharge from the plasma torch; and

controlling the rate of discharge from the plasma torch through the use of a computer numerical control system,

removing the densified silicon carbide component from the plasma processing chamber; and

providing the densified silicon carbide component for subsequent use in the semiconductor fabrication unit.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the densified silicon carbide component was created by a process comprising:

supplying a porous preform formed entirely from silicon carbide and having an open porosity, wherein the porous preform is formed from a near-net shape graphite article;

filling a substantial number of pores within the porous silicon carbide preform with a carbon precursor to produce a filled silicon carbide preform;

heating the filled silicon carbide preform at a preselected pyrolysis temperature to produce a carbonaceous porous structure within the pores of the porous silicon carbide preform; and

contacting the carbonaceous porous structure with silicon so that the silicon diffuses through the carbonaceous porous structure and reacts with carbon contained within the pores of the porous silicon carbide preform to produce a second phase of silicon carbide within the pores of the porous silicon carbide preform, such that the resulting densified silicon carbide article is densified with silicon carbide and exhibits lower porosity compared to the porous silicon carbide preform and is a SiC—SiC composite.