Etching electrolytic, of metals

ELECTROLYTIC ETCHING OF metals produces various results intergranular attack, attack of crystalline surfaces which is orientation dependent formation of etch pits, and anodic oxide films. The behavior of a metal or alloy depends on composition, temperature of the electrolyte, and above all on the electrode potential which varies with the metal. Applications to Al, Fe, stainless steel, Ti, 2r, U, and their alloys will be discussed. 

In electrochemical etching of metals the plate and a counterelectrode are placed in a liquid electrolyte and a voltage is applied to create an electric field between the plates to dissolve the metal as soluble ions. Discuss the following issues and sketch configurations and profiles. 

The electrochemistry of the anodic etching of semiconductors is similar in most respects to the anodic dissolution of metals. The main difference in the electrolytic behavior of metals and semiconductors is in the electrode material itself. 

Surface Finish. As well as influencing the rate of metal removal, electrolytes also affect the quality of surface finish obtained in ECM. Depending on the metal being machined, some electrolytes leave an etched finish. This finish results from the nonspecular reflection of light from crystal faces electrochemicaHy dissolved at different rates. Sodium chloride electrolyte tends to produce a kind of etched, matte finish when used for steels and nickel aHoys. A typical surface roughness average, Ra is about 1 ]lni. 

The process consists of pre-etching, etching, etch neutralization, catalyst appHcation, catalyst activation, and plating. Most commercial appHcations, except REl/EMl shielding, use the initial copper or nickel deposit as a base for subsequent electrolytic plating of electrolytic copper, nickel, or chromium. The exact types and thicknesses of metal used are determined by part usage, eg, automotive exterior, decorative, plumbing, and others (24). 

Hydrogen fluoride Catalyst in some petroleum refining, etching glass, silicate extraction by-product in electrolytic production of aluminum Petroleum, primary metals, aluminum Strong irritant and corrosive action on all body tissue damage to citrus plants, effect on teeth and bones of cattle from eating plants... 

Aluminum foil capacitors occupy an important position in circuit applications due to their unsurpassed volumetric efficiency of capacitance and low cost per unit of capacitance.328 Together with tantalum electrolytic capacitors, they are leaders in the electronic discrete parts market. Large capacitance is provided by the presence of extremely thin oxide layers on anodes and cathodes, and high surface areas of electrodes could be achieved by chemical or electrochemical tunnel etching of aluminum foils. The capacitance of etched eluminum can exceed that of unetched metal by as much as a factor of 50.328... 

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