AU2011287623B9

AU2011287623B9 - Carrier fluids for abrasives

Info

Publication number: AU2011287623B9
Application number: AU2011287623A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Joachim Bentele; Markus Roesch; Kati Schmidt; Hans-Peter Seelmann-Eggebert; Andreas Senf; Udo Stefanowski
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2010-08-03
Filing date: 2011-08-02
Publication date: 2014-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-02
Also published as: KR101505334B1; RU2542974C2; CN103154214B; WO2012016976A1; JP2013534262A; PL2601280T3; RU2013109141A; SG187691A1; AU2011287623A1; JP5543030B2; CN103154214A; ES2525017T3; EP2601280A1; AU2011287623B2; BR112013002486A2; KR20130048245A; CA2806936A1; EP2601280B1

Description

As originally filed Carrier fluids for abrasives 5 Description The invention relates to the use of modified polyglycols for producing carrier fluids for abrasives, novel carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, the use of the carrier fluid in the removal of material, in particular in the cutting of wafers and also 10 wafers produced with the aid of the cutting fluid. Abrasives, also known as grinding agents or abrasive materials, are materials, preferably grains of hard material, which are utilized for removing a material. The use of abrasives as a dispersion in fluids, for example grinding fluids or cutting fluids, is 15 known. Abrasives can in this way be used for polishing wafers, for example silicon wafers, and also for polishing plastics, for example for lenses. Furthermore, the use of abrasives in cutting fluids for cutting wafers is also known. Wafers are thin slices of semiconductors which are used, for example, in photovoltaics. Electronic components, especially integrated circuits, can be produced from wafers. The wafers generally 20 comprise a brittle material, for example silicon, but may also be made of gallium arsenide or cadmium telluride, etc. Wafers are generally, produced from cylindrical or cubic monocrystals or polycrystals which are sawn into the individual slices, viz. the wafers. The sawing (also referred as cutting or lapping) is an industrial practice carried out by wire sawing. This is a parting process using a thin wire as cutter and using 25 unbounded cutting grains in a carrier fluid. The wire generally has a diameter of from 80 to 180 pm. It dips into a slurry of carrier fluid and cutting grain and draws the cutting grains adhering to the wire surface into the saw cut. The object/silicon block, known as ingot, to be sawn/lapped is cut by means of the cutting grains into wafers, with particles being removed from the solid to be cut. The carrier fluid for the cutting grains is applied 30 together with the cutting grains as slurry via an immersion bath through which the wire runs or, in general, via nozzles. The carrier fluid has, inter alia, the task of effecting adhesion of the cutting grains to the wire and carrying particles of removed material from the solid to be parted. Furthermore, the carrier fluid has the task of providing cooling and transport of the abraded material through the saw cut. 35 A process for parting a workpiece, for example a wafer, by means of wire sawing is known from EP 1 757 419 Al; here, a slurry applied to the wire is used and the water content of at least part of the gaseous medium surrounding the slurry is regulated or controlled. Furthermore, the use of glycols as carrier substance is known from 40 EP 1 757 419 A1.

2 A cutting oil comprising a) a polyether compound and b) silica particles and the use of this cutting oil composition for cutting an ingot using a wire saw, in particular for cutting silicon ingots, is known from DE 199 83 092 B4 and US 6,383,991 B1. 5 Water-based lubricants based on polyethers are known from EP 0 131 657 Al and US-A-4,828,735. Cutting fluids are likewise known from the Chinese patent application CN 101205498 A; a reduction in the water uptake is not indicated here. The compounds specifically mentioned are polyalkyleneoxy compounds which are etherified with alcohols having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 10 EP 686 684 Al discloses a sawing suspension comprising an abrasive material in an aqueous phase comprising one or more water-soluble polymers as thickeners. US 2007/0010406 Al discloses hydroxy polyethers as additives for aqueous cutting fluids which can be used, inter alia, for producing silicon wafers. 15 The known cutting fluids are generally based on an aqueous or water-soluble base. However, the presence of water is disadvantageous because it can cause corrosion and it is also possible, for example, for hydrogen to be evolved when cutting silicon wafers as a result of reaction of water and silicon. An additional problem here is that 20 silicate or polysilicate formation occurs on the wafer and in the slurry. The known water-soluble systems, too, can comprise water and, owing to their microscopic properties, attract water so that the same disadvantages as in aqueous systems can occur. 25 it was an object of the invention to provide improved carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, which, in particular, lead to a reduction in the water uptake and a reduction in the energy required for sawing. 30 The invention provides for the use of compounds of the formula I R' [0 (EO)x (AO)y H1, where 35 R' is a z-valent alkyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms (EO) is an ethyleneoxy radical (AO) is an alkyleneoxy radical having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms x is an integer from 3 to 12, in particular from 5 to 10 40 y is an integer from 0 to 10, in particular from 4 to 8 3 z is an integer from 1 to 6, in particular from 1 to 3, for producing carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, having a reduced water uptake for removal of material, in particular for sawing wafers by means of a wire 5 saw. The invention further provides carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, comprising at least one compound of the formula I 10 R' [o (EO)x (AO)y H], where R' is a z-valent alkyl radical having from 5 to 10 carbon atoms 15 (EO) is an ethyleneoxy radical (AO) is an alkyleneoxy radical having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms x is an integer from 3 to 12, in particular from 5 to 10 y is an integer from 0.5 to 10, in particular from 4 to 8 z is an integer from 1 to 6, in particular from 1 to 3. 20 The invention further provides novel compounds |1 of the formula

R

1 0 (EO)x (AO)y H where 25 R' is 2-methylbutyl or 3-methylbutyl (EO) is an ethyleneoxy radical (AO) is an alkyleneoxy radical having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms x is an integer from 3 to 12, in particular from 5 to 10 30 y is an integer from 0 to 10, in particular from 4 to 8 z is an integer from 1 to 6, in particular from 1 to 3 in preferred compounds of the formula 11, at least as many EO units as PO units are present. Very particularly preferred compounds of the formula 11 are shown in the 35 following table: Compound R x y 11.1 2-methylbutyl 5.5 5.5 11.2 2-methylbutyl 5.0 6.0 4 In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of x to y in the compound of the formulae I and II is equal to or less than 1. For the purposes of the present invention, compounds of the formula |1 are particularly 5 preferred embodiments of compounds of the formula 1. In a preferred embodiment, in formula I: R1 is a pentyl radical, preferably 10 H 3

C-CHCH

3

-CH

2

-CH

2 - (3-methylbutyl) and

H

3

C-CH

2

-CHCH

3

-CH

2 - (2-methylbutyl), in particular at least 10% of 3-methylbutyl In formulae I and II: AO is propyleneoxy, butyleneoxy and pentyleneoxy or a mixture 15 thereof. In the case of the compounds of the formulae I and Il, the recurring units (EO) and (AO) can be present as a block or randomly distributed. In a preferred embodiment, they are randomly distributed, It has surprisingly been found that the viscosity of the 20 compounds is largely independent of temperature when the recurring units (AO) and (EO) are randomly distributed. In particular, when the recurring units (EO) and (AO) are randomly distributed, the compounds of the formula I to be used according to the invention have a viscosity index in a slurry comprising 40% by weight of silicon carbide of the type Carborex F 800 PV from Washington Mills AS, NO-7300 Orkanger, Norway, 25 of not more than 45%, preferably less than 30%, in particular less than 20%, with the viscosity index being defined as follows: the viscosity index is, for the purposes of the present invention, the percentage decrease in the viscosity of the compounds of the formula I at 50"C compared to the viscosity at 30 0 C. The viscosity here is the dynamic viscosity (Brookfield, spindle V-73) determined in accordance with DIN EN 12092. 30 The carrier fluids of the invention can not only comprise one compound of the formula I but also mixtures of compounds of the formula 1. The preparation of compounds of the formula I is known per se, see, for example, 35 Nonionic Surfactants, edited by Martin J. Schick, Volume 2, Chapter 4 (Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York 1967). The preparation of the novel compounds of the formula Il can be carried out in an analogous way. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, 40 consist of the compound of the formula 1. The molecular weight of the compound of the 5 formula I is preferably from 200 to 1200 g/mol. In a further preferred embodiment, alkylene alcohols based on ethylene oxides, propylene oxides or copolymers of ethylene oxides and propylene oxides, preferably having a molecular weight of from 200 to 800 g/mol are comprised in addition to the compounds of the formula I. In use 5 for sawing, the cutting fluid comprises abrasives, in particular cutting grains, in addition to the compound of the formula 1. In a further preferred embodiment, the carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, are combined with at least one further additive, in particular with at least one 10 monoalkylene, oligoalkylene or polyalkylene glycol, wetting agent, thickener, dispersant, 15 corrosion inhibitor, complexing agent and/or other additives such as scale inhibitors to form a carrier fluid. 20 Preference is given to at least one of the following additives being added in the following parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the compound 1: alkylene glycols: from 10 to 90, in particular from 20 to 60, parts by weight wetting agent: from 1 to 100, in particular from 10 to 40, parts by weight 25 thickener: from 0.5 to 20, in particular from 1 to 10, parts by weight dispersant: from 0.1 to 20, in particular from 0.5 to 10, parts by weight corrosion inhibitor: from 0.1 to 10, in particular from 0.1 to 3, parts by weight complexing agent: from 0.1 to 10, in particular from 1 to 5, parts by weight other additives: from 0.05 to 10, in particular from 0.1 to 5, parts by weight 30 The water content of the composition according to the invention is, based on the total composition, not more than 10% by weight, preferably not more than 5% by weight, in particular less than 1% by weight. 35 6 Particularly preferred additives are indicated below: Wetting agents 5 In addition to the compounds of the formula I to be used according to the invention, it is possible to use further wetting agents, in particular (1) Poly(oxyalkylene) derivatives of a) sorbitan esters, e. g. poly(oxyethylene)sorbitan monolaurate, 10 poly(oxyethylene)sorbitan monooleate, poly(oxyethylene)sorbitan trioleate b) fatty amines, e.g. tallow amino ethoxylates, soy amino ethoxylates, c) castor oil, e.g. castor oil ethoxylates, d) alkanolamides, e.g. coconut oil alkanolamide ethoxylates, e) fatty acids, e.g. oleic acid ethoxylates, lauric acid ethoxylates, palmitic acid 15 ethoxylates, f) fatty alcohols, g) linear alcohol ethoxylates, nonylphenol ethoxylates, octylphenol ethoxylates (2) Hydrophilic polydimethylsiloxanes 20 a) poly(dimethyl)siloxane substituted by at least one carbonyl end group, poly(dimethyl)siloxane copolymers, c) poly(dimethylsiloxane)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers, d) polyquarternary (dimethylsiloxane) copolymers 25 (3) Fatty imidazolines (4) Fatty acid esters of a) phosphates, 30 b) sorbitans, c) glycerol compounds, e.g. glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl dioleate, glyceryl trioleate, dilaurate, e) sulfosuccinic acid, 35 (5) Quaternary compounds e.g. quaternary ammonium methosulfate. Further suitable nonionic, cationic, anionic or amphoteric wetting agents are, in particular 40 7 - alkoxylated C 4

-C

22 -alcohols such as fatty alcohol alkoxylates or oxo alcohol alkoxylates. These can be alkoxylated by ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide. All alkoxylated alcohols which have at least two molecules of one of the abovementioned alkylene oxides added on can be used as wetting agents. 5 Possible compounds of this type are block polymers of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide or addition products which comprise the abovementioned alkylene oxides distributed randomly or in blocks. The nonionic wetting agents generally comprise from 2 to 50 mol, preferably from 3 to 20 mol, of at least one alkylene oxide per mole of alcohol. The alcohols preferably have from 10 10 to 18 carbon atoms. Depending on the type of alkoxylation catalyst used in the preparation, the method of preparation and the work-up, the alkoxylates have a broad or narrow alkylene oxide homologue distribution; - alkylphenol alkoxylates such as alkylphenol ethoxylates having C 6

-C

4 -alkyl chains and from 5 to 30 alkylene oxide units; 15 - alkyl polyglucosides having from 8 to 22, preferably from 10 to 18, carbon atoms in the alkyl chain and generally from 1 to 20, preferably from 1.1 to 5, glucoside units, sorbitan alkanoates, also alkoxylated; - N-alkylglucamides, fatty acid alkoxylates, fatty acid amine alkoxylates, fatty acid amide alkoxylates, fatty acid alkanolamide alkoxylates, alkoxylated, block 20 copolymers of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide, polyisobutene ethoxylates, polyisobutene-maleic anhydride derivatives, optionally alkoxylated monoglycerides, glyceryl monostearates, sorbitan esters and bisglycerides. 25 Particularly useful nonionic wetting agents are alkyl alkoxylates or mixtures of alkyl alkoxylates, as are described, for example, in DE-A 102 43 363, DE-A 102 43 361, DE-A 102 43 360, DE-A 102 43 365, DE-A 102 43 366, DE-A 102 43 362 or DE-A 43 25 237. These are alkoxylation products obtained by reaction of alkanols with alkylene oxides in the presence of alkoxylation catalysts or mixtures of alkoxylation 30 products. Particularly suitable starter alcohols are the Guerbet alcohols, in particular ethylhexanol, propylheptanol and butyloctanol. Particular preference is given to propylheptanol. Preferred alkylene oxides are propylene oxide and ethylene oxide, with alkyl alkoxylates having a direct bond between a preferably short polypropylene oxide block and the starter alcohol, as are described, for example, in DE-A 102 43 365, being 35 particularly preferred because of their low residual alcohol content and their good biodegradability. A preferred class of suitable nonionic wetting agents are the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (NI) 40 8 R'-O-(C HrCH R-O-),(CHr-CH-O-)(CH 2 -CH R 6

-O),(CH

2 -CH R 2 0-)mH (NI) where 5 R' is an at least singly branched C 4 22 -alkyl or -alkylphenol,

R

2 is C 34 -alkyl,

R

5 is C 1 r-alkyl,

R

6 is methyl or ethyl, n is an average value of from 1 to 50, 10 m is an average value of from 0 to 20, preferably from 0.5 to 20, r is an average value of from 0 to 50, s is an average value of from 0 to 50, where n is at least 0.5 when R 5 is methyl or ethyl or r is 0. 15 A mixture of from 20 to 95% by weight, preferably from 30 to 95% by weight, of at least one abovementioned alkyl alkoxylate and from 5 to 80% by weight, preferably from 5 to 70% by weight, of a corresponding alcohol alkoxylate in which R1 is, however, an unbranched alkyl radical having the same number of carbon atoms is also possible. 20 Furthermore, alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (NIl)

R

3 0-(CH2-CHrO)p (CH 2

-CHR

4 -0-)qH (N1l) where 25

R

3 is branched or unbranched C 4 22 -alkyl or -alkylphenol,

R

4 is C3 4 -alkyl, p is an average value of from 1 to 50, preferably from 4 to 15, q is an average value of from 0.5 to 20, preferably from 0.5 to 4, more preferably 30 from 0.5 to 2, are also suitable. A mixture of from 5 to 95% by weight of at least one branched alcohol alkoxylate (Nil) 35 as described directly above and from 5 to 95% by weight of a corresponding alcohol alkoxylate in which, however, an unbranched alkyl radical is present in place of a branched alkyl radical is also possible. In the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (NI), R 2 is preferably propyl, in 40 particular n-propyl.

9 in the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (Nil), n preferably has an average value of from 4 to 15, particularly preferably from 6 to 12, in particular from 7 to 10. 5 m preferably has an average value from 0.5 to 4, particularly preferably from 0.5 to 2, in particular from 1 to 2. The radical R' is preferably a C8-5-, particularly preferably C8-13-, in particular C 812 -alkyl radical which is at least singly branched. It is also possible for a plurality of branches to 10 be present.

R

5 is preferably methyl or ethyl, in particular methyl.

R

6 is preferably ethyl. 15 In the mixtures, compounds having unbranched and branched alcohol radicals R 1 are present. This is the case, for example, for oxo alcohols which have a proportion of linear alcohol chains and a proportion of branched alcohol chains. For example, a C13/15 oxo alcohol frequently has about 60% by weight of completely linear alcohol chains together with about 40% by weight of a-methyl-branched and C 2 -branched alcohol 20 chains. In the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (NIl), R 3 is preferably a branched or unbranched C 8

.,

5 -alkyl radical, particularly preferably a branched or unbranched Cauralkyl radical and in particular a branched or unbranched C 12 -alkyl radical. R 4 is 25 preferably propyl, in particular n-propyl. p preferably has an average value of from 4 to 15, particularly preferably an average value of from 6 to 12 and in particular an average value of from 7 to 10. q preferably has an average value of from 0.5 to 4, particularly preferably from 0.5 to 2, in particular from 1 to 2. 30 In a manner analogous to the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (NI), the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formula (NII) can also be present as mixtures having unbranched and branched alcohol radicals. Possible alcohol components on which the alcohol alkoxylates are based include not 35 only pure alkanols but also homologous mixtures having a range of carbon atoms. Examples are C 81 no-alkanols, C1 0112 -alkanols, Cn 3115 -alkanols, C, 2

,

5 -alkanols. Mixtures of a plurality of alkanols are also possible. The above alkanol alkoxylates or mixtures according to the invention are preferably 40 prepared by reacting alcohols of the general formula R 1 -OH or R 3 -OH or mixtures of 10 corresponding branched and unbranched alcohols optionally firstly with C 3

.

6 -alkylene oxide, then with ethylene oxide and subsequently optionally with C3.

4 -alkylene oxide and then with an appropriate C 5

.

6 -alkylene oxide. The alkoxylations are preferably carried out in the presence of alkoxylation catalysts. In particular, basic catalysts such 5 as potassium hydroxide are used here. The random distribution of the amounts of the alkylene oxides incorporated can be greatly restricted by means of specific alkoxylation catalysts such as modified bentonites or hydrotalcites as are described, for example, in WO 95/04024, so that "narrow-range" alkoxylates are obtained. 10 In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the alkoxylates are alkoxylate mixtures comprising alkoxylates of the general formula (NIll) CsHiCH(C 3

H

7

)CH

2 0(B)(A)(B)m(A)qH (NIII) 15 where A is ethyleneoxy, the radicals B are each, independently of one another, C 3 10 -alkyleneoxy, preferably 20 propyleneoxy, butyleneoxy, pentyleneoxy or mixtures thereof, where groups A and B are present in the form of blocks in the order indicated, p is from 0 to 10, 25 n is from > 0 to 20, m is from > 0 to 20, 30 q is from > 0 to 10, p+n+m+q isatleast1, where 35 from 70 to 99% by weight of alkoxylates Al in which C 5

H

1 1 is n-C 5

H

1 and from 1 to 30% by weight of alkoxylates A2 in which C 5

H

11 is C 2

H

5

CH(CH

3

)CH

2 and/or

CH

3

CH(CH

3

)CH

2

CH

2 , 40 11 are present in the mixture. In the general formula (NIll), p is from 0 to 10, preferably from 0 to 5, in particular from 0 to 3. If blocks (B)p are present, p is preferably from 0.1 to 10, particularly preferably 5 from 0.5 to 5, in particular from 1 to 3. In the general formula (Nill), n is preferably in the range from 0.25 to 10, in particular from 0.5 to 7, and m is preferably in the range from 2 to 10, in particular from 3 to 6. B is preferably propyleneoxy and/or butyleneoxy, especially propyleneoxy in both 10 positions. q is preferably in the range from 1 to 5, particularly preferably in the range from 2 to 3. The sum p + n + m + q is at least 1, preferably from 3 to 25, particularly preferably from 15 5 to 15, in particular from 7 to 13. Preference is given to 3 or 4 alkylene oxide blocks being present in the alkoxylates. In one embodiment, firstly ethyleneoxy units, then propylene oxide units and then ethyleneoxy units are adjoined to the alcohol radical. In a further embodiment, firstly 20 propyleneoxy units, then ethyleneoxy units, then propyleneoxy units and finally ethyleneoxy units are adjoined to the alcohol radical. It is also possible for the other alkyleneoxy units indicated to be present in place of the propyleneoxy units. p, n, m and q are each a value averaged over the alkoxylates. For this reason, p, n, m, 25 q can also have nonintegral values. The alkoxylation of alkanols generally gives a distribution of the degree of alkoxylation which can to a certain extent be set by use of different alkoxylation catalysts. The choice of appropriate amounts of the groups A and B enables the property spectrum of the alkoxylate mixtures according to the invention to be matched to practical requirements. 30 The alkoxylate mixtures are obtained by alkoxylation of the parent alcohols

C

5 Hi 1

CH(C

3

H

7

)CH

2 OH. The starting alcohols can be mixed from the individual components so to as give the ratio according to the invention. They can be prepared by aldol condensation of valeraldehyde and subsequent hydrogenation. The preparation 35 of valeraldehyde and the corresponding isomers is carried out by hydroformylation of butene, as described, for example, in US 4,287,370; Beilstein E IV 1, 32 68, Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th Edition, Volume Al, pages 323 and 328 ff. The subsequent aldol condensation is described, for example, in US 5,434,313 and R6mpp, Chemie Lexikon, 9th Edition, keyword "Aldol-Addition", page 91. The 12 hydrogenation of the aldol condensation product follows general hydrogenation conditions. Furthermore, 2-propylheptanol can be prepared by condensation of 1-pentanol (as 5 mixture of the corresponding 1-methylbutanols) in the presence of KOH at elevated temperatures, see, for example, Marcel Guerbet, C.R. Acad Sci Paris 128, 511, 1002 (1899). Reference may also be made to Rdmpp, Chemie Lexikon, 9th Edition, Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart, and the references cited therein and also Tetrahedron, Vol. 23, pages 1723 to 1733. 10 In the general formula (NIll), the radical C 5

H

1 can be n-C 5

H,

1 , C 2

H

5

CH(CH

3

)CH

2 or

CH

3

CH(CH

3

)CH

2

CH

2 . The alkoxylates are mixtures in which - from 70 to 99% by weight, preferably from 85 to 96% by weight, of alkoxylates Al 15 in which C.

5 H is n-CH 11 are present and - from 1 to 30% by weight, preferably from 4 to 15% by weight, of alkoxylates A2 in which C 5

H

11 is C 2

H

5

CH(CH

3

)CH

2 and/or CH 3

CH(CH

3 )CH2CH 2 are present. 20 The radical C 3

H

7 is preferably n-C 3

H

7 . The alkoxylates can also be block isotridecanol alkoxylates of the general formula (NV) R-O-(CmH 2 mO)(CH 2 nO)_H (NV) 25 where R is an isotridecyl radical, m is 2 and at the same time n is 3 or 4 or m is 3 or 4 and at the same time n is 2 and x and y are, independently of one another, from 1 to 20, 30 where in the case of m = 2/n = 3 or 4, the variable x is greater than or equal to y. These block isotridecanol alkoxylates are described, for example, in DE 196 21 843 Al. Another suitable class of nonionic surfactants are end-capped alcohol alkoxylates, in 35 particular of alcohol alkoxylates mentioned above. In a particular embodiment, the end capped alcohol alkoxylates are the end-capped alcohol alkoxylates corresponding to the alcohol alkoxylates of the general formulae (NI), (Nil), (NIII) and (NV). The end cap can be produced, for example, by means of dialkyl sulfate, C 110 -alkyl halides,

C

1

.

10 -phenyl halides, preferably chlorides, bromides, particularly preferably cyclohexyl 40 chloride, cyclohexyl bromide, phenyl chloride or phenyl bromide.

13 Examples of end-capped alkoxylates are also described in DE-A 37 26 121, the entire relevant disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, these alcohol alkoxylates have the general structure (NVI), 5 R'-0-(CH 2 -CHR"-0)m(CH2-CHR'".O)rRv (NVI) where 10 R' is hydrogen or C 1

-C

20 -alkyl, R"1 and R'" are identical or different and are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, RIv is C 1

-C

10 -alkyl, preferably C 1

-C

4 -alkyl, or cyclohexyl or phenyl, m' and n' are identical or different and are each greater than or equal to 0, 15 with the proviso that the sum of m' and n' is from 3 to 300. Another class of nonionic wetting agents are alkyl polyglucosides which preferably have from 6 to 22, particularly preferably from 10 to 18, carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. These compounds generally comprise from 1 to 20, preferably from 1.1 to 5, glucoside 20 units. Further possible nonionic wetting agents are the end-capped fatty acid aide alkoxylates of the general formula 25 R'-CO-NH- (CH 2 )y-O- (A'O).-R 2 known from WO-A 95/11225, where R' is a C 5

-C

2 1 -alkyl or alkenyl radical, 30 R 2 is a CrCralkyl group, A' is C 2

-C

4 -alkylene, y is 2 or 3 and x is from 1 to 6. 35 Examples of such compounds are the reaction products of n-butyl triglycolamine of the formula H 2

N-(CH

2

-CH

2 -0) 3

-C

4

H

9 with methyl dodecanoate or the reaction products of ethyl tetraglycolamine of the formula H 2

N-(CH

2

-CH

2

-O)

4

-C

2 Hs with a commercial mixture of saturated C-C1a methyl fatty acid esters.

14 Further suitable nonionic wetting agents are polyhydroxy or polyalkoxy fatty acid derivatives such as polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, N-alkoxy or N-aryloxy polyhydroxy fatty acid amides, fatty acid aide ethoxylates, in particular end-capped fatty acid amide ethoxylates, and also fatty acid alkanolamide alkoxylates. 5 Further suitable nonionic wetting agents are block copolymers of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide (Pluronic* and Tetronic* grades from BASF SE and BASF Corp.). In a preferred embodiment, these copolymers are triblock copolymers having polyethylene/polypropylene/polyethylene blocks and a molecular 10 weight of from 4000 to 16 000, with the proportion by weight of the polyethylene blocks being from 55 to 90%, based on the triblock copolymer. Particular preference is given to triblock copolymers having a molecular weight of more than 8000 and a polyethylene content of from 60 to 85% by weight, based on the triblock copolymer, These preferred triblock copolymers are, in particular, commercially available under the trade names 15 Pluronic F127, Pluronic F108 and Pluronic F98, in each case from BASF Corp., and are described in WO 01/47472 A2, the entire relevant disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the present invention. In addition, preference is also given to using block copolymers of ethylene oxide, 20 propylene oxide and/or butylene oxide capped at one or both ends. Capping at one end is achieved, for example, by using an alcohol, in particular a C 1 2 2 -alkyl alcohol, for example methanol, as starting compound for the reaction with an alkylene oxide. In addition, two-ended end capping, for example, can be produced by reacting the free block copolymer with dialkyl sulfate, C 1

..

1 -alkyl halides, Co 1 0 -phenyl halides, preferably 25 chlorides, bromides, particularly preferably cyclohexyl chloride, cyclohexyl bromide, phenyl chloride or phenyl bromide. Individual nonionic wetting agents or a combination of different nonionic surfactants can also be used. It is possible to use nonionic wetting agents from only one class, in 30 particular only alkoxylated C 4 -C2 2 -alcohols. However, as an alternative, wetting agent mixtures from various classes can also be used. The concentration of nonionic wetting agent in the composition according to the invention can vary as a function of the leaching conditions, in particular as a function of 35 the material to be leached. Suitable anionic wetting agents are alkanesulfonates such as Cr-C 24 -, preferably C1o

C

1 -alkanesulfonates, and also soaps such as the Na and K salts of saturated and/or unsaturated C 8

.C

2 4 -carboxylic acids. 40 15 Further suitable anionic wetting agents are linear C-C 20 -alkylbenzenesulfonates ("LAS"), preferably linear C 9

-C

3 -alkylbenzenesulfonates and -alkyltoluenesulfonates. Thickeners 5 Thickeners are compounds which increase the viscosity of the chemical composition. Nonlimiting examples are given, for example, in WO 2009/090169 Al: polyacrylates and hydrophobically modified polyacrylates. The advantage of the use of thickeners is that liquids having a relatively high viscosity have a higher residence time on inclined or vertical surfaces than liquid having a lower viscosity. This increases the interaction time 10 between composition and surface. Further particularly preferred thickeners are, for example, bentonite, xanthan and cellulose and also cellulose derivatives, in particular cellulose ethers and cellulose esters, in particular methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose. 15 Further examples of thickeners are polyacrylamides, polyethers or associative polyurethane thickeners, polyvinyl alcohols and polyvinylpyrrolidones. Dispersants/scale inhibitors 20 Furthermore, it is possible, according to the invention, to make additional use of at least one dispersant, for example selected from the group consisting of salts of naphthalenesulfonic acids, condensation products of naphthalenesulfonic acids and formaldehyde and also polycarboxylates. Dispersants of this type are commercially available, for example, under the trade names Tamol*, Sokalan* and Nekal* from 25 BASF SE and under the trade name Solsperse* from Lubrizol. These dispersants may also act as scale inhibitors (deposit preventers) since they disperse the calcium carbonate CaCO 3 formed in alkaline medium and thus prevent, for example, blockage of nozzles or formation of deposits in pipes. Independently of this, the composition according to the invention can additionally comprise at least one further scale inhibitor. 30 Suitable scale inhibitors are described, for example, in WO 04/099092, which describes (meth)acrylic acid copolymers which comprise (a) from 50 to 80% by weight, preferably from 50 to 75% by weight, particularly preferably from 55 to 70% by weight, of a poly(meth)acrylic acid skeleton, 35 (b) from 1 to 40% by weight, preferably from 5 to 20% by weight, particularly preferably from 7 to 15% by weight, of at least one unit which is selected from the group consisting of isobutene units, terelactone units and isopropanol units and is bound to the skeleton and/or incorporated into the skeleton and 40 16 (c) from 5 to 50% by weight, preferably from 5 to 40% by weight, particularly preferably from 10 to 30% by weight, of aide units based on aminoalkylsulfonic acids, 5 where the total weight of the units in the (meth)acrylic acid copolymer is 100% by weight and all percentages by weight are based on the (meth)acrylic acid copolymer. The (meth)acrylic acid copolymers provided according to WO 04/099092 preferably have a weight average molecular weight of the polymer comprising sulfone groups of 10 from 1000 to 20 000 g/mol and can preferably be prepared by means of the following process steps: (1) free-radical polymerization of (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of 15 isopropanol and optionally water, resulting in a polymer 1, and (2) amidation of the polymer I from process step (1) by reaction with at least one aminoalkanesulfonic acid. Further suitable scale inhibitors are, for example: 20 - semiamides of polycarboxylic acids, which can be obtained by reaction of polymers comprising anhydride groups with compounds comprising amino groups (as described in DE 195 48 318), - vinyllactic acid and/or isopropenyllactic acid (as described in DE 197 195 16), - homopolymers of acrylic acid (as described in US-A-3 756 257), 25 - copolymers of acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrylic acid and vinyllactic acid and/or isopropenyllactic acid, - copolymers of styrene and vinyllactic acid, - copolymers of maleic acid and acrylic acid, - water-soluble or water-dispersible graft polymers, which can be obtained by 30 free-radically initiated graft polymerization of (1) at least one monoethylenically unsaturated monomer, (II) polymers having a molar mass of from 200 to 5000 g/mol of monoethylenically unsaturated dicarboxylic acids or anhydrides thereof, (Ill) where from 5 to 20 000 parts by weight of (I) are used per 100 parts by 35 weight of the graft base (11) (DE 195 03 546), - optionally hydrolyzed polymaleic anhydrides and salts thereof (as described in US-A-3 810 834, GB-A-1 454 657 and EP-A-0 261 589), - iminodisuccinates (as described in DE 101 02 209), - formulations comprising complexing agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic 40 acid (EDTA) and/or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) (as described in US 5,366,016), 17 - phosphonates, - polyacrylates, - polyaspartic acids or polyaspartic acids which have been modified as described in DE-A-44 34 463, 5 - polyaspartimides, - polymers comprising hydroxamic acid, hydroxamic ether and/or hydrazide groups (as described in DE 44 27 630), - optionally hydrolyzed polymers of maleimide (as described in DE 43 42 930), - naphthylamine polycarboxylates (as described in EP 0 538 969), 10 - oxaalkanepolyphosphonic acids (as described in EP 330 075), - polyhydroxyalkaneaminobismethylenephosphonic acids (as described in DE 40 16 753) and - oxidized polyglucosanes (as described in DE 43 30 339). 15 Particularly preferred dispersants are polyacrylic acid, for example the Sokalan* grades from BASF SE, and polyaspartic acids, in particular p-polyaspartic acids, having a molecular weight of from 2000 to 10 000 g/mol. Preferred polymeric compounds comprising carboxylic acid groups are the acrylic acid homopolymers indicated in EP 2 083 067 Al. These preferably have a number average molecular weight in the 20 range from 1000 to 50 000, particularly preferably from 1500 to 20 000. Homopolymers of acrylic acid which are particularly suitable as polymeric compounds comprising carboxylic acid groups are the Sokalan ® PA grades from BASF SE. Further suitable polymeric compounds comprising carboxylic acid groups are 25 oligomaleic acids as are described, for example, in EP-A 451 508 and EP-A 396 303. Other compounds which are preferred as polymeric compounds comprising carboxylic acid groups are copolymers comprising at least one unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid or a dicarboxylic anhydride or a salt thereof as monomer A) and at 30 least one comonomer B) in copolymerized form. The monomer A) is preferably selected from among C 3 -C1 0 -monocarboxylic acids, salts of C 3

-C

1 o-monocarboxylic acids, C 4

-C

6 -dicarboxylic acids, anhydrides of C 4

-C

8 -dicarboxylic acids, salts of

C

4

-C

8 -dicarboxylic acids and mixtures thereof. Monomers A) in salt form are preferably used in the form of their water-soluble salts, in particular the alkali metal salts such as 35 potassium and especially sodium salts or the ammonium salts. The monomers A) can in each case be entirely or partly present in anhydride form. Of course, it is also possible to use mixtures of monomers A). The monomers (A) are preferably selected from among acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 40 crotonic acid, vinylacetic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, citraconic 18 acid, citraconic anhydride, itaconic acid and mixtures thereof. Particularly preferred monomers A) are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride and mixtures thereof. These copolymers preferably comprise at least one monomer A) in an amount of from 5 to 95% by weight, particularly preferably from 20 to 80% by weight, in 5 particular from 30 to 70% by weight, based on the total weight of the monomers used for the polymerization, in copolymerized form. Corrosion inhibitors 10 The agents, e.g. carboxylic acids, indicated in, for example, WO 2008/071582 Al act as corrosion inhibitors. These can be linear or branched. Mixtures of various carboxylic acids can be particularly preferred. Caprylic acid, ethylhexanoic acid, isononanoic acid and isodecanoic acid are particularly preferred carboxylic acids. Since corrosion 15 protection emulsions are frequently neutral to weakly alkaline, it can be advantageous to use the carboxylic acids at least partly in neutralized form, i.e. as salt. Sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide and also alkanolamines are particularly suitable for neutralization. Particular preference is given to using monoalkanolamines and/or trialkanolamines. The use of dialkanolamines is less preferred because of the risk of 20 formation of nitrosamines. Dialkanolamines can be used equally well either alone or together with monoalkanolamines and/or trialkanolamines for neutralization. Suitable corrosion inhibitors are, in particular: 25 Aliphatic carboxamides having from 14 to 36 carbon atoms, for example myristamide, palmitamide and oleamide; alkenylsuccinamides having from 6 to 36 carbon atoms, for example octenylsuccinamide, dodecenylsuccinamide; mercatobenzothiazoles. Particularly preferred corrosion inhibitors are alkylene oxide adducts with aliphatic 30 amines, in particular triethanolamines and ethylenediamine adducts with from 2 to 8 mol% of propylene oxide. Complexing agents 35 Complexing agents are compounds which bind cations. Typical examples are: EDTA (N,N,N',N'-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), NTA (N,N,N-nitrilotriacetic acid), MGDA (2-methylglycine-N,N-diacetic acid), GLDA (glutamic acid diacetate), ASDA (aspartic acid diacetate), IDS (iminodisuccinate), HEIDA (hydroxyethylimine diacetate), EDDS 19 (ethylenediamine disuccinate), citric acid, oxodisuccinic acid and butanetetracarboxylic acid and completely or partially neutralized alkali metal or ammonium salts thereof. Other Additives 5 Further suitable additives are, for example, bonding agents. Suitable bonding agents are, for example, the amphiphilic water-soluble alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines of the general formula Al indicated in WO 2006/018856 A2 E B EzN-R+N-R] R NE2 Al 10 where the variables have the following meanings: the radicals R are identical or different, linear or branched C2-C6-alkylene radicals; 15 B is a branch; E is an alkyleneoxy unit of the formula R1 O- 1 R2-0*,RS-O -R' 20 where R1 is 1,2-propylene, 1,2-butylene and/or 1,2-isobutylene; R2 is ethylene; R3 is 1,2-propylene; R4 are identical or different radicals: hydrogen; C1-C4-alkyl; 25 x, y, z are each from 2 to 150, where the sum x+y+z is the number of alkyleneimine units and corresponds to an average molecular weight Mw of the polyalkyleneimine before the alkoxylation of from 300 to 10 000; m is a rational number from 0 to 2; n is a rational number from 6 to 18; 30 p is a rational number from 3 to 12, where 0.8 n/p 1.0 (x+y+z)1/2. The invention further provides a slurry composed of the carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, abrasives, in particular grinding and/or cutting grains, and optionally additives. 35 It is possible to use the customary abrasives, in particular grinding and/or cutting grains, for example metal, metal or semimetal, carbide, nitride, oxide, boride or 20 diamond grains. Particularly preferred cutting grains are carbide and boride grains, in particular silicon carbide (SiC) grains. The cutting grains preferably have a geometry matched to the materials and the wafers to be cut. A preferred particle size is in the range from 0.5 to 50 pm. The cutting grains can be present in heterodisperse or 5 homodisperse form. The cutting grains are preferably comprised in the cutting fluid composition in a concentration of from 25 to 60% by weight, in particular from 40 to 50% by weight. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, has a 10 contact angle to V2A steel of from 5 to 400, in particular from 10 to 30'. The contact angle is determined here at 250C on a steel plate made of V2A steel whose surface has been rinsed with water and acetone. In a further preferred embodiment, the carrier fluids, in particular cutting fluids, of the 15 invention lead to an average weight decrease over two tests of not more than 20-60 mg in one minute on a stainless steel cylinder M1M6/05R, Torrington, having a diameter of 12 mm on a MDD2 balance from Hermann Reichert Maschinenbau, Heidenhof Backnang, at a loading of 300 N and over a distance of 110 m. 20 In a further preferred embodiment, the carrier fluids, in particular cutting fluids, of the invention take up not more than 30%, preferably not more than 15%, of water after storage for 10 hours in a Heraeus BBD 6220 C02 incubator at 380C and 78% relative atmospheric humidity. For the storage test, 1 g of carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, in Petri dishes having an internal diameter of 60 mm is used in each case. The average 25 of a duplicate determination is determined in each case. In a very particularly preferred embodiment, this water uptake does not increase even on further exposure. A slurry composed of a carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, according to the invention and 40% by weight of the abrasives indicated below, in particular grinding and/or 30 cutting grains, preferably has a viscosity measured at 300C using a Brookfield LVDV-Ill Ultra apparatus (spindle V-73) of from 140 to 200 mPas, in particular from 150 to 190 mPas, when Carborex BWF 800 PV silicon carbide grains from Washington Mills are used. 35 The invention further relates a method of cutting wafers of, in particular, inorganic semiconductors such as silicon ingots or silicon blocks by means of a wire saw using a slurry based on the cutting fluid of the invention and cutting grains. The invention further relates to a method of grinding or polishing materials derived 40 from, for example, silicon ingots or blocks by, for example, chemomechanical polishing 21 (CMP) or of grinding polymers, in particular for lenses, using abrasives dispersed in a carrier fluid to be used according to the invention. Advantages 5 The carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, of the invention and the cutting method of the invention are particularly suitable for sawing ingots, blocks or cylinders of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon single crystals or polycrystals, GaAs, CdTe and other semiconductors and ceramics. 10 The carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, of the invention displays little or no foaming, does not require any additives, is pH neutral and is nontoxic. In addition, it does not contain any volatile organic constituents. Furthermore, the carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, of the invention is highly suitable for reprocessing by means of a wet 15 chemical work-up, for example as described in WO 02/40407 Al and EP 1 390 184 Al. Examples: 20 General method of preparing polyethers 1-2 mol of the starter alcohol were in each case placed in a water-free, dry 1 I pressure reactor, admixed with 0.2% by weight (based on end product) of KOH and flushed with nitrogen. The closed reactor was then heated to 130 0 C over a period of 30 minutes and 25 a gauge pressure of I bar was set by means of nitrogen. The molar amounts of propylene oxide (hereinafter PO) and ethylene oxide (hereinafter EO) indicated in table 1 were subsequently metered in in parallel (random process) or in succession (block process) while stirring. In the block process, after PO had been added and a constant pressure had been reached, the mixture was stirred at 130*C for at least A hour and 30 the pressure was set to 1 bar before the addition of EO. The vessel was thermostated to 130CC during the reaction. After a constant pressure had been reached, the mixture was stirred for a further about A hour. After the reaction was complete, the mix was cooled to 80"C, the reactor was depressurized and flushed with nitrogen, the amount of glacial acetic acid calculated for neutralization of the KOH was added and the mixture 35 was stirred for A hour. The OH number was determined in accordance with DIN 51562, the residual alcohol content was determined by means of gas chromatography and the APHA color number was determined in accordance with EN 1557 (at 23"C). 40 22 Table 1: Examples and analytical characterization Product Chemical composition OH Residual Color (PO here is propyleneoxy, number alcohol number EO here is ethyleneoxy) % Pluriol@ E 200 polyethylene glycol 200 560 DEG max30 3 C1 (3-methylbutan-1-ol) + 1.6 PO + 98.3 0.2 70 8.3 EO block process C2 (3-methylbutan-1-ol) + 5.5 PO + 5.5 87.0 < 0.1 25 EO random process C3 (3-Methylbutan-1 -ol) + 6.0 PO + 5.0 85.7 < 0.1 20 EO random process C4 n-butan-1-ol + 5.5 PO + 5.5 EO 90.4 < 0.1 30 random process C5 methyl diglycol + 8.8 EO/ 106.6/ 0.2/<0.1 60/50 (3-methylbutan-1-ol) + 1.5 PO + 7.0 112.4 EO in a weight ratio of 6/4 block process C6 Pluronic@ PE 6200/ 112.4 0.1 30 n-pentanol +1.5 PO + 6 EO in a weight ratio of 18/82 block process 07 Plurafac@ LF 401/ 126.2 0.1 25 n-pentanol + 1.5 PO + 6 EO in a weight ratio of 3/7 block process C8 n-hexanol + 5.5 PO + 5.5 EO 84.0 < 0.1 20 random process 11.1 2-methylbutan-1-ol + 5.5 PO + 5.5 85.2 < 0.1 20 EO random process 11.2 2-methylbutan-1-ol + 6.0 PO + 5.0 86.1 < 0.1 15

EO

23 Product Chemical composition OH Residual Color (PO here is propyleneoxy, number alcohol number EO here is ethyleneoxy) % random process The wetting agents and alkylene glycols Pluronic@ PE 6200 and Plurafac@ LF 401 added in examples C6 and C7 are commercial products of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen. The analytical data reported are based on the component pentanol + 1.5 PO + 6 EO 5 according to the invention, block process. Properties/determination of the characteristic values The properties of the cutting fluids according to the invention are summarized in table 10 2. The following properties were determined: . Water uptake The water uptake of the cutting fluids was determined after storage in a Heraeus BBD 15 6220 C02 incubator at 38CC and 78% relative atmospheric humidity for a time of 10 hours and 24 hours. For storage, 1 g in each case of cutting fluid was used in Petri dishes having an internal diameter of 60 mm. The average of a duplicate determination was determined in each case. The water uptake is in each case reported in percent by weight increase based on the initial weight. 20 * Slurry viscosity To determine the slurry viscosity, a mixture of 60 percent by weight of the sawing fluid and 40 percent by weight of SiC of the type Carborex BW F 800 PV from Washington 25 Mills was produced and the viscosity was determined at 30"C and optionally 50*C using a model LVDV-III Ultra viscosimeter from Brookfield (Spindle V-73). The slurry viscosity is reported in mPas. * Contact angle 30 The contact angle of the cutting fluids was determined at 25CC one second after application of a droplet to a steel plate made of V2A steel whose surface had been rinsed with water and acetone and subsequently dried in air for 1 hour. A video-aided high-speed contact angle measuring instrument from Dataphysics Instruments GmbH, 35 RaiffeisenstraBe 34, Filderstadt was used for the determination. The unit of the contact angle is ".

24 Abrasion The abrasion behavior was determined on a frictional wear balance MDD2 from Hermann Reichert Maschinenbau, Heidenhof Backnang, at a loading of 300 N and a 5 test distance of 100 m in 54.5 sec. on a stainless steel cylinder M1M6/05R, Torrington having a diameter of 12 mm. A duplicate determination was carried out in each case and the average of the weight decrease of the cylinder was determined. The weight decrease is reported in mg. 10 Table 2 Product H 2 0 uptake 10h Viscosity [mPas] Contact angle Abrasion (24h) [%] 30CC (50C) [0] [mg] Pluriol@ E 200 203 (94) 41 70 C1 17.2 (18.2) 181 (85) 30 25 C2 5.7 (5.9) 160 (89) 23 32 C3 5.3 (5.3) 185 (161) 21 22 C4 6.6 (6.6) 155 (93) 23 28 C5 16.3 (24.3) 164 (77) 29 35 C6 5.5 (8.3) 175 (84) 28 29 C7 6.3 (8.2) 167 (84) 36 33 C8 5.3 (5.3) 198 (176) 34 38 Pluriol@ E 200 is a polyethylene glycol having an average molar mass of 200 from BASF SE, Ludwigshafen. The example represents the prior art and is not according to 15 the invention. The compounds 11.1 and 11.2 gave results comparable to the compounds C2 and C3. Practical test 20 Sawing tests on polycrystalline silicon blocks were carried out on a DS 265 wire saw from Meyer Burger AG, Allmendstrasse 86, CH 3600 Thun using the sawing fluids C1 and C3. The test conditions were: Dimensions of the wafers: 5" x 5", 150 pm 25 SiC grade: F 88, ds50 = 6.5 pm Advance rate: 0.6 mm/s Wire speed: 14 m/s Wire diameter: 120 pm 25 Wire tension: 20 N Slurry temperature: 220C Composition of the slurry: 60% by weight of sawing fluid, 40% by weight of SiC 5 Compared to the PEG 200 (Pluriol@ E 200) which is usually used in industrial practice, the following improvements were found for the cutting fluids according to the invention: Pluriol@ E 200 C1 C3 Water uptake, [% by weight] 3 <0.5 <0.5 Force per wire in advance direction, [N] 0.62 0.57 0.58 Force per wire in wire direction, [N] 1.62 1.51 1.55 Power uptake per wire, [W] 29.5 24.0 26.5 (without machine contribution) TTV, 5-point support, [%] 12.5 11.8 10.5 (total thickness variation of wafers) Critical fracture stress, [N/mm 2 ] 158 163 178 Similar improvements were also found when using the other products according to the 10 invention shown in table 1. Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

1. The use of compounds of the formula 1 5 R' [O (EO), (AO)y H]11 where 10 R1 is a z-valent alkyl radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms (EO) is an ethyleneoxy radical (AO) is an alkyleneoxy radical having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms x is an integer from 3 to 12, in particular from 5 to 10 y is an integer from 0 to 10, in particular from 4 to 8 15 z is an integer from 1 to 6, in particular from I to 3, for producing carrier fluids for abrasives, in particular cutting fluids, having a reduced water uptake for removal of material, in particular for sawing wafers by means of a wire saw, having a water content of less than 1% by weight. 20

2. The use according to claim 1, wherein, in the formula i, R1 is a z-valent alkyl radical having from 5 to 10 carbons, in particular pentyl. 25

3. The use according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the wafer is a semiconductor, in particular silicon.

4. The use according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier 30 fluid, in particular cutting fluid, is used in a slurry together with cutting grains, where metal, carbide, nitride, metal oxide, boride or diamond grains are used as cutting grains.

5. The use according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier 35 fluid, in particular cutting fluid, is worked up to separate off the resulting abraded material during or after removal of the material, in particular after cutting.

6. A carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, comprising at least one compound of the formula 1 40 27 R' [O (EO)x (AO)y HIz where 5 R' is a z-valent alkyl radical having from 5 to 10 carbon atoms (EO) is an ethyleneoxy radical (AO) is an alkyleneoxy radical having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms x is an integer from 3 to 12, in particular from 5 to 10 y is an integer from 0.5 to 10, in particular from 4 to 8 10 z is an integer from 1 to 6, in particular from 1 to 3, having a water content of less than 1% by weight.

7. The carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, according to claim 6, wherein R 1 is pentyl. 15

8. The carrier fluid, in particular culling fluid, according to claim 6, wherein the contact angle of the carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, on V2A steel at 25*C is from 25 to 50*. 20

9. The use of a carrier fluid, in particular cutting fluid, according to at least one of the preceding claims for the removal of material, in particular during sawing of wafers, from an object to be cut, in particular semiconductor, in particular silicon, by means of a saw using cutting grains, in particular silicon carbide grains. 25

10. The use of a carrier fluid according to at least one of the preceding claims for polishing materials, in particular for polishing wafers of silicon or of materials composed of polymers, in particular for lens production.

11. A method of cutting wafers from an object by means of a saw using a slurry 30 composed of a cutting fluid and cutting grains, in particular cutting grains composed of metal, a carbide, nitride, oxide, boride, a-alumina or diamond, wherein the cutting fluid is a cutting fluid according to at least one of the preceding claims which is optionally worked up to separate off the resulting abraded material during or after removal of the material, in particular after 35 cutting.

12. A method of polishing materials, in particular materials composed of silicon or polymers, using a slurry composed of a carrier fluid and abrasive materials, wherein a carrier fluid according to at least one of the preceding claims is used 40 as carrier fluid. 28

13. A wafer, in particular silicon wafer, obtained according to at least one of the preceding claims. 5

14. A compound of the formula II R ' 0 (EO)x (AO)y H where 10 R4 is 2-methylbutyl or 3-methylbutyl and (EO), (AO), x and y are as defined in claim 1.