Simulation of mechanical properties of epoxy-based chemically amplified resist by coarse-grained molecular dynamics

The mechanical properties of an epoxy-based chemically amplified resists with various cross-linking ratios were simulated using a newly developed coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation that employs a bead-spring model. Models with the different cross-linking ratios were created in the molecular dynamics calculation step and uniaxial elongation simulations were performed. The results reveal that the simulated elastic modulus of the resist modeled by the Kremer-Grest model with an extended angle bending potential depends on the cross-linking ratio, its dependency exhibits good agreement with that determined by nanoindentation tests. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.