Aluminium and Ferric Chloride

mkoblic · 2010-12-02T06:13:33+00:00

I had to try it to see for myself. Actually the aim of the experimentwas three-fold:1) To see how well FeCl3 etches aluminum2) To assess the properties of my new home-made resist3) To assess the properties of the new back-spray methodA small 2' x 2.5" x 1/8" aluminum plate was sanded down on one sideto 400 grit, 220 on the opposite side. Cleaned with acetone. Resistapplied and some Roman numerals carved in as a pattern. The plate wasthen back sprayed with two coats and allowed to dry overnight.A small amount of commercially available FeCl3 solution, used maytimes previously on brass and steel, was placed in a Pyrex dish andthis in turn placed on a dinner warming plate dedicated to thatpurpose (I usually try to get the solution to about 35 degC).Results.1) Nothing much happened at first. After 20 minutes the solution was,however, boiling lustily. Adding water made no difference, so theplate was removed and rinsed in water. This stopped the boil and thesolution was immediately neutralized to pH>9.2) The (rather soft in the first place) resist all but melted and whatwas left was easily brushed away.3) The back spray partially peeled off, the rest was bubbly as onewould expect if significant heat was applied to paint.4) The etching result is here: interesting effect which I have seen in someone else's work butnever in mine is the deeper etch at the edges of the etched area wherethe bare metal meets the resist. I have confirmed with a magnifyingglass that the etched lines are deeper at the edges with a slightridge in the middle. On the back it is even more pronounced with atrench running along the border where the back spray paint peeled off.Anyone knows what this is due to? I suspect that gas production is insome ways to blame but I cannot guess at the mechanism.Conclusions:1) The new resist is useless (actually I knew that before the etch -it is too soft).2) No conclusion can be made about the back spray method - not manywill withstand boiling temperatures.3) FeCl3...

Dec 02, 2010 40 Replies

Rate this thread:

Larry Jaques 15 years ago

Swedes? Swanny was a Brit. Nicolo was ascerbic. I mean a Serbian. And George 'n Tom were 'Murricans. What pooch-screwin' Swedes do you know, and how is it relevant? (Dare I ask?)

Friends of Tawms, fer sher.

William?

-- Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly. -- Plutarch

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required

Aluminium and Ferric Chloride

Related discussions

Etching 304 Stainless Steel with Ferric Chloride Problems

Lathe chuck spindle attachment

More mysteries of electrolysis

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?