Apparatus for conditioning chemical-mechanical polishing pads

Abstract

An apparatus for conditioning a polishing pad, or conditioner, includes a supporting substrate and abrasive elements. The abrasive elements of the conditioner are used to condition a polishing pad to be used in abrasive, or at least partially mechanical, semiconductor substrate treatment processes, such as chemical-mechanical polishing or chemical-mechanical planarization processes. The abrasive elements are formed from a material that may be degraded or dissolved by at least one chemical that will not substantially degrade or dissolve a material of the polishing pad. Any residue or particles of, or from, the abrasive elements that stick to or become embedded in the polishing pad are removed therefrom by exposing the polishing pad to the at least one chemical so as to degrade or dissolve the residue or particles without substantially degrading or dissolving a material of the polishing pad.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.