Abstract:
A PROCESS FOR ETCHING SILICON NITRIDE WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING A SILICON NITRIDE SUBSTRATE WITH FUSED AMMONIUM HYDROGE PHOSPHATE AT A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 190*C. TO 235*C. THE PREFERRED MOLE RATIO OF NH4 TO PO4 IS 0.8 TO 1.5. THE PROCESS FINDS PARTICULAR APPLICABILITY IN ETCHING A SILICON NITRIDE SUBSTRATE WHICH HAS BEEN MASKED WITH A PHOTO-RESIST.