Method of dividing a semiconductor wafer

A method of dividing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of streets formed on the front surface in a lattice form and a circuit formed in a plurality of areas sectioned by the plurality of streets into individual semiconductor chips, comprising:

• a bonding film adhering step of adhering a bonding film for die bonding to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer;
• a protective adhesive tape affixing step of affixing an extensible protective adhesive tape to the bonding film;
• a dividing step of dividing the semiconductor wafer into individual semiconductor chips without dividing the bonding film by applying a laser beam along the streets from the front surface of the semiconductor wafer affixed to the protective adhesive tape;
• a bonding film breaking step of breaking the bonding film for every semiconductor chip by extending the protective adhesive tape so as to give tensile force to the bonding film;
• and
• a semiconductor wafer removing step of removing the semiconductor chips having the broken bonding film affixed thereto from the protective adhesive tape.