Cupric chloride is generally considered a better etchant even though it is not as well known as ferric chloride. [Rolan Yang] has a photoset of the process. Cupric chloride is usually sold as a photography chemical. The best feature is that the solution can be regenerated so you won’t be disposing of nearly as much etchant. I found a great page detailing the process for the hobbyist.
w00t first post!
Anyways, what is it meant by “better”? does it etch corners cleaner or make it easier for thinner traces?
How expensive is it compared to ferric?
Posted at 3:49 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by Satiagraha
note that this hack links to two pages. the 2nd page (not the photoset) contains all the real info.
if I’m reading this correctly, the solution is ‘regenerated’ by adding air, hydrochloric acid, and water; additional cupric chloride is not required because it makes more from the previously etched copper. with regeneration, you end up with more usable etchant with time!
but there was another etching method featured a while back which used only hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide. note that i haven’t used either that method (yet – but i will soon) or this method, but here’s some initial observations:
1) The hydrochloric/peroxide etchant would be easier to use because it’s clear.
2) The primary concern in disposal is the toxicity of metal compounds in the etchant. Hydrochloric/peroxide produces only as much copper as you etch away. Hydrochloric/cupric actually produces more, as you’re adding cupric to start, in addition to what you etch away. You’d have to regenerate it many times to minimize that starting penalty.
3) Hydrochloric/cupric etchant requires more attention to properly mix and regenerate; compared to hydrochloric/peroxide which you just mix and discard.
So, although the featured method is interesting, I don’t see any advantages for the average hobbyist over the hydrochloric/peroxide method. Correct me if I’m wrong!
Posted at 5:27 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by Darkcobra
also, since hydrogen peroxide is listed as one possible regenerants, it may be that the hydrochloric/peroxide etchant actually *makes* a regeneratable hydrochloric/cupric etchant after etching, without having to have the cupric on hand in the first place..?
Posted at 5:29 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by Darkcobra
And what is the price of CuCl2? Sigma says 47 $. Iron chloride is half the price! And what about Sodium/Ammonium persulfate? No stains? Faster? Cheaper! Can anybody please explain why no hacks are posted? This is not a hack this is just a standart procedure description. Well, wait, no, not even that it is only a hand full of pictures. But it is new! No, wait google has 13.000 entries for (“cupric chloride” etchant). Congratulations! New all-time low!
Posted at 5:52 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by stoned
you can regenerate feric chloride by electroplating the copper out of it.
Posted at 6:13 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by Beanwaur
“well, wait, no, not even that it is only a hand full of pictures”
wow, stoned, thanks for the great enlightenment. had you been paying attention, you would have noticed darkcobra’s earlier post:
“note that this hack links to two pages. the 2nd page (not the photoset) contains all the real info.”
I think I will stick with ferric chloride. It’s $7 cdn for 500mL at the local electronics store, and that lasts quite a while (it can be reused many times).
Only problems are it needs to be heated (easy for small boards, just boil some water and immerse a glass container in it), and that it will stain.
I guess if you want to stretch out the bottle a bit more, instead of having empty areas on the board use ground fill or hatching.
Posted at 7:59 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by japroach
“[edit] google results for “cupric chloride” etchant = 13100, not 13.000.”
A period is often used as the thousands separator in European countries. Why would anyone write 13_point_000? So just quit yer nitpicking and lighten up everyone! :-)
Posted at 10:11 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by smloo
Ya, im agreeing with japroach on this one. you cant beat a 16 oz. bottle from a local ratshack for 7 bux of ferric chloride. theres no mixing of fluids, and if its a small enuf board you dont really even need to heat it, as long as its room temperature (so no etching in a cold garage).
Posted at 10:16 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by asdf
all your BASE are belong to us
*snortgiggle*
I’m so funny.
Posted at 5:07 am on Aug 13th, 2006 by PacketMonkee
RE: smloo
One would write 13.000 to provide 4 significant digits (rightmost digit in a number is considered suspect (rounding / measurement error) and therefore not trusted or “significant” – this way one is certain down to the hundredths place that the decimal part is 0.
Then again, it’s kind of hard to have “part” of a google result query, so specifying decimals for a count of google results returned doesn’t make sense in this context. ::shrug::
Posted at 7:07 am on Aug 13th, 2006 by smilr
go for it stoned ur far to inteligent for this lot i have the same problem they all so thick that they carnt understand us as for the hack all i can say is next plz
Posted at 1:44 pm on Aug 13th, 2006 by steve
Now I just need to figure out how to incorporate an LED into this and it will be perfect
Posted at 3:25 pm on Aug 13th, 2006 by brainwarp
how about illuminating the liquid with a high power led
Posted at 4:20 pm on Aug 13th, 2006 by hi
go on leds are wonderfull we need more somthing to brighten our hackaday pmsl
Posted at 4:24 pm on Aug 13th, 2006 by steve
#20 now your cooking, wonder if a defcon badge would do the trick. hehehe
Posted at 4:50 pm on Aug 13th, 2006 by brainwarp
maybe you could use the etchant as a wetcell in a battery and make a heating pad for the etchant with it and have its power level shown by a lit led.
Posted at 7:09 pm on Aug 13th, 2006 by mike
If you ground up a famous director could you make Kubrick Chloride?
What?
Posted at 11:53 am on Aug 14th, 2006 by strider_mt2k
strider_mt2k: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_kubrick
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Wow. We’re being spoilt for choice in the ghetto-etch department these days, and this guide is INSANELY detailed… nice!
Posted at 3:44 pm on Aug 12th, 2006 by liam