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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2011
We report on the successful patterning of polyamic acid over wide areas using 28 kV pulsed electron beams produced in 30 mTorr air. The pattern degradation during the 350°C, 1/2 hr, imidizing thermal cure is prevented by pulsed, flood electron beam hardening of the developed polyamic acid patterns using the same soft vacuum, pulsed electron beam apparatus. It is also shown that a CW, low voltage, 1 to 3 kV electron beam sustained oxygen discharge can be used to completely strip the hardened, imidized material which is difficult to remove by wet methods. We also present, dose versus thickness remaining characteristics as a function of electron source to substrate distance and some examples of polyimide patterning.