Patent attributes
Disclosed herein is an SiC substrate separating method for separating an SiC substrate into at least two parts in a planar manner. The SiC substrate separating method includes an adhesive tape attaching step of attaching a transparent adhesive tape to a first surface of the SiC substrate, a support member attaching step of attaching a support member to a second, opposite surface of the SiC substrate, and a separation start point forming step of setting the focal point of a laser beam at a predetermined depth from the adhesive tape and next applying the laser beam to the adhesive tape while relatively moving the focal point and the SiC substrate to thereby form a modified layer parallel to the first surface of the SiC substrate and cracks propagating from the modified layer, thus forming a separation start point.