Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "lcdpublishing"
<lcdpublishing@...> wrote:
>
> Hi guys,
> 
> I have been using Ferric Chloride for a few years now - works fine 
> and is easy to get and dispose of when spent.  The downside is the 
> mess.
> 

I recall reading an article about a fellow who "regenerated" his
Ferric Chloride by using electrolysis.   He'd use iron for (I think)
the cathode and a copper target for the anode.   He'd pass a DC
current through the solution, plating the copper out of the solution
and substituting iron.

In this way he'd remove the copper chloride and substitute iron
chloride, "regenerating" the solution for more use.

Don't recall where it can be found, perhaps Google?


There is a site called "Think 'n Tinker" which offers a peroxide system. 

http://www.thinktink.com

The author claims that it has a "two phase" effect - when the solution
is hot it removes copper from the boards and when it is cold the
copper comes out of solution.  You have to maintain the solution with
some reagents and must carefully watch the temperatures. I have no
experience with this process but have worked in the past with
peracetic acid (nasty stuff).

Gene