Acids Used in Acid Etching
Many types of acids are used in etching stainless steel, including sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids all require proper and careful handling. The acids can dissolve fingers or stainless steel. A faster etching process is usually the result of a stronger acid.
Hydrochloric acid is mostly used during copper etching. In the etching of mild steels, copper sulfate is used. Nitric acid is best used in a one-to-three ratio with water.
Metals That Can be Acid Etched
Any known metals can be etched with acid, the most popular being attractive metals due to their characteristics and properties. Metals that are used mostly in acid etching are listed below:
Titanium – Titanium is a strong, lightweight metal that possesses good fatigue characteristics.
Aluminum – Aluminum is another strong and lightweight metal with good corrosion resistance and weight ratio.
Copper – Copper is a soft metal that etches very quickly.
Nickel – Nickel is resistant to extreme temperatures and usually used as an alloy.
Stainless Steel – Stainless steel is very resistant to corrosion.
Bronze – Bronze is a ductile metal. It is very firm, stiff, and hard compared to copper.
Molybdenum – This metal has high strength characteristics and good electrical conductivity. Molybdenum is known for its high thermal properties and low thermal expansion.
Types of Acid Etchings
The types of acid etchings include:
Steel Etching
The requirements for steel etching are distilled water, acetone, plastic container, rubber gloves, ferric chloride, wet-steel wool, etch resist, and dental paper. The most important part is the preparation of these etching components. Poor preparation will give a disappointing outcome.
The initial stage of preparation involves dissembling the knife, where there should be no amount of acid on the liners, scales, or washers. Afterward, the blade is cleaned with acetone. This process creates a very clean surface so that the etch resist will adhere to it quickly.
The third stage involves the creation of the etch resist pattern. The pattern is formed on the steel as a barrier is created to stop the acid before it reaches the steel. A pattern forms when the resistance is removed, and all the exposed metal is darkened and marked by the acid.
Following this step, the etch acid is mixed before the etching starts. This mixing must be done in a well-ventilated area. There are two main processes of acid etching: acid bath etching and focused etching. Sanding, stone washing, and clean-up follow before the final results are obtained.
Aluminum Etching
Aluminum etching is considered a less toxic, simple, cheap, and safer kind of metal etching. The general steps in aluminum etching start with the preparation of the mordant. Next, copper sulfate is dissolved with salt, and the solution is allowed to cool. Copper sulfate is toxic in large quantities.
The etch must always be allowed to cool before use since it can produce an aggressive smoke during etching. However, the process is quick to finish, and interesting textures can be obtained if coarse salt is used.
Applications and Benefits of Acid Etching
The applications and benefits of acid etching include:
Applications and Uses of Acid Etching
The applications of acid etching are broad, and listed below are some of the areas they cover:
- Lead frames
- Contacts and electrical connectors
- Motor laminations
- Medical instruments and devices
- Plate heat exchangers
- Filters, meshes, and sieves
- Gaskets, washers, and shims
- Cranio maxillofacial implants
Benefits of Acid Etching
- Little or no hard tooling is required
- Unlimited complexity
- Low cost
- Fast iterations
- High accuracy
- The metal's properties are unaffected
Choosing the Right Acid Etching Company
To make sure you have the most productive outcome when purchasing Acid Etching from an Acid Etching Manufacturer, it is important to compare at least 4 or 5 Companies using our list of Acid Etching suppliers. Each Acid Etching Supplier has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the manufacturer for more information or request a quote. Review each Acid Etching company website using our proprietary website previewer to get an idea of what each company specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple Acid Etching companies with the same message.
