| abstract |
A process for the preparation of substrates used in the manufacture of integrated circuits wherein spin-on low dielectric constant (low-k) polymer films are applied on semiconductor substrates. A non-etchback processing of spin-on low-k polymer films, without losing the low dielectric constant feature of the film, especially inbetween metal lines, is achieved utilizing electron beam radiation. A polymeric dielectric film (7, 8) is applied and dried onto a substrate and exposed to electron beam radiation under conditions sufficient to partially cure the dielectric layer. The exposing forms a relatively more hardened topmost portion (8) of the dielectric layer and a relatively less hardened underlying portion (7) of the dielectric layer. |