Method for treating the surface of a workpiece
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for processing one or more workpiece comprising the steps of:
- placing the workpiece into a chamber;
heating a liquid;
applying the heated liquid onto the workpiece in the chamber, with the heated liquid forming a boundary layer on the workpiece;
providing ozone gas into the chamber, wherein ozone gas moves via diffusion from a region of higher ozone concentration, at the gas/liquid interface at the surface of the heated liquid boundary, through the heated liquid boundary layer, and to a region of lower ozone concentration at the liquid/solid interface at the surface of the workpiece.
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Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for supplying a mixture of a treatment liquid and ozone for treatment of a surface of a workpiece, and a corresponding method are set forth. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises a liquid supply line that is used to provide fluid communication between a reservoir containing the treatment liquid and a treatment chamber housing the workpiece. A heater is disposed to heat the workpiece, either directly or indirectly. Preferably, the workpiece is heated by heating the treatment liquid that is supplied to the workpiece. One or more nozzles accept the treatment liquid from the liquid supply line and spray it onto the surface of the workpiece while an ozone generator provides ozone into an environment containing the workpiece.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for processing one or more workpiece comprising the steps of:
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placing the workpiece into a chamber;
heating a liquid;
applying the heated liquid onto the workpiece in the chamber, with the heated liquid forming a boundary layer on the workpiece;
providing ozone gas into the chamber, wherein ozone gas moves via diffusion from a region of higher ozone concentration, at the gas/liquid interface at the surface of the heated liquid boundary, through the heated liquid boundary layer, and to a region of lower ozone concentration at the liquid/solid interface at the surface of the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating a workpiece comprising the steps of:
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placing the workpiece into a chamber;
heating a liquid;
applying the liquid onto a surface of the workpiece within the chamber, with the liquid comprising de-ionized water, and at least one of hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid;
forming the liquid into a layer on the surface of the workpiece; and
providing ozone gas into the chamber, wherein ozone gas moves via diffusion from a region of higher ozone concentration, at the gas/liquid interface at the surface of the heated liquid boundary, through the heated liquid boundary layer, and to a region of lower ozone concentration at the liquid/solid interface at the surface of the workpiece.
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16. A method for treating a workpiece comprising the steps of:
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placing the workpiece into a chamber;
heating a liquid;
spraying the heated liquid onto a surface of the workpiece, forming the heated liquid into a boundary layer on the surface of the workpiece;
controlling the thickness of the boundary layer; and
providing ozone gas into the chamber, wherein ozone gas moves via diffusion from a region of higher ozone concentration, at the gas/liquid interface at the surface of the heated liquid boundary, through the heated liquid boundary layer, and to a region of lower ozone concentration at the liquid/solid interface at the surface of the workpiece.
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17. A method for treating a workpiece comprising the steps of:
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heating a liquid;
spraying droplets of the heated liquid onto a surface of the workpiece at a controlled rate;
controlling the size of the droplets sprayed onto the surface of the workpiece;
forming the heated liquid into a boundary layer on the surface of the workpiece; and
diffusing ozone through the boundary layer, to cause a reaction at the surface of the workpiece.
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Specification