What does alkaline etching mean?
Alkaline etch is basically cupric chloride with the copper complexed with ammonia to keep it in solution at a higher pH. In the correct pH range the etchant will still attack copper but is much less aggressive towards tin, solder and nickel.
Can you etch on copper?
Etching copper doesn’t have to be a complex process with the right tools and supplies to hand. Remember, if you can draw up your own design, use a pre-stamped design, or take inspiration from other patterns and prints, you can certainly etch it into your copper jewellery pieces.
Why can you etch copper metal with acidic copper chloride?
Cupric chloride etchant must have at least some detectable free acid in it for optimum etch efficiency. The hydrochloric acid dissolves the copper oxide and allows the cupric chloride to attack the copper metal directly. Without some HCl in the etchant the etch rate of cupric chloride would be cut at least in half.
What will etch copper?
Ferric chloride
Ferric chloride works on copper, brass and nickel silver. It will not work on actual silver (fine or sterling). Do NOT use ferric chloride on aluminum. Metal as thin as 24-gauge can be etched – just leave it in for less time than you would for thicker metal.
Which chemical is used to neutralize the acid used for copper etching?
Baking soda to neutralize the acid.
What can you use as a resist for etching?
A very quick and reliable way to cover the back of an etching plate is by applying sheets of self-adhesive film or strips of packing tape or other strong adhesive tape. In addition to protecting the back of the plate, a resist should cover the metal’s edges.
What is etch resistant?
Etch resist pens are permanent waterproof pens containing ink with etch resist properties. They are used to draw circuits on plain copper laminate that are then etched in ferric chloride.
What do you need to know about alkaline etch?
Alkaline etch is basically cupric chloride with the copper complexed with ammonia to keep it in solution at a higher pH. In the correct pH range the etchant will still attack copper but is much less aggressive towards tin, solder and nickel.
Which is the etch resist in wet etching?
In the outer layer etching process, the tin plating acts as the etch resist. Whereas, in the inner layer, the photoresist is the etch resist. Wet etching is a type of etching process where the unwanted material is dissolved when immersed in a chemical solution.
What kind of acid is used to etch copper?
Copper Etching Copper is etched by (also diluted) nitric acid as well as saturated 30% Fe (Cl)3 solution.Mixtures of NH4OH and H2O2 etch copper as well.
What kind of etching is used on aluminium?
Aluminium alloyed with only a few percent silicon has a similar etching rate as pure aluminium. Copper is etched by this Al-etchant much more greatly than aluminium, nickel is comparatively weakly etched. Titanium, chromium and silver are not noticeably etched, precious metals such as gold, platinum are not etched at all.