Homebrew_PCBs

What temperature does Ferric chloride need to be heated too for
improved etch times?

Thanks,
Phil

About 50 degree celsius (if i remember correct).
There is a temperature above it gets dangerous (fumes or so).

Use google, i'm sure you will find the exact temperatures.

stefan

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 21:17:22 -0000, Moore <pminmo@...> wrote:

> What temperature does Ferric chloride need to be heated too for improved
> etch times?
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
>
>
>
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In general most chemical reaction rates double every 10
degrees centigrade increase. Not sure if this applies to
ferric chloride etching. I remember CuCl2 bubble etching
taking some 30 to 40 minutes minuets to chew through 1 oz
copper at 8°C.


Moore wrote:

> What temperature does Ferric chloride need to be heated too for
> improved etch times?
>
> Thanks,
> Phil
>
>
>
> Be sure to visit the group home and check for new Bookmarks and files:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Homebrew_PCBs
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Homebrew_PCBs-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

In a message dated 10/13/2003 4:19:10 PM Central Standard Time,
pminmo@... writes:
What temperature does Ferric chloride need to be heated too for
improved etch times?
Phil:

I have not yet read others' opinions, but I use the nasty stuff (FeCl³) for
ALL my "one-each" non-PTH work, and HERE's your answer: Room temperature
"works", if kinda slowly. If you heat the stuff before use, 50°C will make it work
MUCH faster. I'd be afraid to go OVER that, not so much because it may-well
then exude noxious fumes, but because it'd melt the adhesive of the resists,
and then it'd eat EVERYTHING off your blank!

If you MUST use a microwave to warm the etchant, know this: The stuff is
VERY electrically-conductive, thus the first few mm. of it work as a "radio-freq.
shield", so only that first few mm. get hot! The container will quickly get
too hot to hold, so, "nuke" it for, say, 15 sec., then stop and "swish" it
around a bit, and nuke it another 15 sec. Do this for a total of a minute, until
you know "what works", and then increase the total time "per the math", if
necessary. BE VERY CAREFUL! If the container breaks open and spills that nasty
yellow stuff all down your wife's white kitchen-furniture and the insides of
HER microwave, I don't wanna be in the same State!

Jan Rowland


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>From: Adam Seychell <adam_seychell@...>
>Reply-To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>To: Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [Homebrew_PCBs] Etchant Temperature
>Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 10:01:35 +1000
>
>In general most chemical reaction rates double every 10
>degrees centigrade increase. Not sure if this applies to
>ferric chloride etching. I remember CuCl2 bubble etching
>taking some 30 to 40 minutes minuets to chew through 1 oz
>copper at 8�C.

I have the etchant container i n a larger container partly filled with
boiling water from the kettle. The temperature of the etchant is probably
about 60C on average. With continuous agitation and fresh etchant it takes
less than 10 mnutes to etch a board.

Leon
--
Leon Heller, G1HSM Tel: +44 1424 423947
Email: aqzf13 at dsl dot pipex dot com
WWW: http://www.geocities.com/leon_heller

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Greetings,

We use 60°C (140°) to 65°C (149°F) with aggressive compressed air agitation.

Higher etching temperatures result in shorter etching times with less
undercutting.

Thanks, Ned

Ned Seith
Nedtronics
1716 lodi Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94401
650-473-0200 x111
FAX 650-473-0357
nedtron@...