Applied Materials, Inc.
Physical Vapor Deposition Chamber Cleaning Processes

Abstract:

Methods of cleaning a PVD chamber component, for example, process kit components are disclosed. The method comprises at least one of directing a jet of pressurized fluid at a surface of the PVD chamber component, directing pressurized carbon dioxide at the surface of the PVD chamber component, placing the PVD chamber component in a liquid and producing ultrasonic waves in the liquid to further remove contaminants from the surface of the PVD chamber component, using a plasma to clean the surface of the PVD chamber component, subjecting the PVD chamber component to a thermal cycle by heating up to a peak temperature of at least 50.degree. C. and subsequently cooling down to room, placing the PVD chamber component in a process chamber, reducing the pressure in the process chamber below atmospheric pressure and purging the process chamber with a gas, surface conditioning the surface of the PVD chamber component, and drying the surface of the PVD chamber component by directing a gas on the surface of the PVD chamber component.