International Business Machines Corporation

Volker Mattern

Johann Greschner

Thomas Bayer

Johann W Bartha

Roland R Stoehr

Dieter P Kern

Disclosed is a vacuum reactor for etching substrates having a low thermal conductivity to a high degree of etch rate uniformity, wherein the substrates to be etched are arranged in a holder at a predetermined spacing from the cathode to which RF energy is applied. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cathode is raised in the area of the substrate to be etched to within a spacing of about 0.2 mm from the bottom side of the substrate. The cathode is made of aluminium, and is provided in the area of the substrate to be etched with a layer which acts as a black radiator. The heat formed during RIE is removed by radiation, and the radiation reflected from the cathode to the substrate is absorbed by the layer. Also disclosed is a method of etching substrates having a low thermal conductivity, in particular plastic substrates.

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Boeblingen, Germany

Volker Mattern