Thermal Stability Studies on 1, 3, 5, 7 - Tetramethylcyclotetra-Siloxane(TMCTS), a Low к CVD Precursor

Abstract

AbstractChemical studies on 1,3,5,7-tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS) were conducted to elucidate its thermal behaviors with water and under various reaction conditions. TMCTS was heated in the presence of 316L stainless steel and in the presence of water. The heated TMCTS then was evaluated using 1H NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy, GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) as a function of time, temperature and residual water concentration. The thermal degradation kinetics of gas-phase TMCTS were investigated using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy at elevated temperatures. These initial results indicated that TMCTS degradation rates increased with both temperature and water concentration. This work spawned the development of a “dry” TMCTS that is expected to exhibit enhanced thermal stability relative towards uncontrolled decomposition.