Reply did not copy the TechNet so am resending. ---------- From: Edwards, Ted A (AZ75) To: [log in to unmask] Subject: RE: Cupric Chloride Etchant Date: Tuesday, April 08, 1997 7:13AM Suggest you start by reading Steady State Etching of Copper by L. Missel and F.D. Murphy in Metal Finishing Magazine December 1969. Adding the salt can double the rate of reaction as I remember it, provided you keep the solution acidic with HCl. Then contact Oxford V. U.E, 818-353-4714 or http://www.oxfordvue.com, they make an improved version of the old Oxford regeneration system which regenerates with sodium chlorate. Another good contact is ASI 602-276-7361 talk to Marshal Gurian, they make etchers and have long experience in cupric chloride etching. Just remember that whether you regenerate with sodium chlorate or chlorine gas that the active chemistry is chlorine. Here is a previous TechNet on the subject: ---------- From: Edwards, Ted A (AZ75) To: Ted Stern Cc: Tully, Marti (AZ15); [log in to unmask] Subject: RE: FAB: Cupric chloride regeneration with sodium chlorate Date: Tuesday, January 28, 1997 4:18PM First off, regarding any reaction that generates or used chlorine gas it requires a thorough understanding of the operation and chemistry of the system. Only personnel with proper equipment and that definitely includes very good ventilation with a fume scrubber on the ventilation system, and more importantly a good understanding should attempt to do this as the reaction basically involves the addition to the solution of chlorine gas or creation of chlorine gas in the solution and you do not want this nasty chemical in your breathing area Chlorine gas really can kill you, and if it does not get you when you breath it can cause chemical pneumonia. A good chlorine detection and alarm system should also be installed. I would suggest you talk to your etcher machine supplier, or if you are just contemplating this talk to Marshal Gurian at ASI 602-276-7361 (who makes etching systems)as they have a lot of experience. Over the years there have been a number of units to add the HCl and sodium chlorate starting with Vis-U-Etch or the Chemcut colormetric solution color monitoring system. ORP overcomes a problem that all the colormetric systems had at one time or another of salts plugging the line to the colormetric cell but even with it some maintenance is required as the chemistry is corrosive, it does not know which copper you want to keep (the system wiring) and that which you want to remove ( the excess copper on the board). I have used both chlorine gas and chlorate/HCL and for ease of operation the chlorate is IMO easier to operate. Opening the chlorine gas cylinders requires a vacuum which means you need an injector large enough to generate a good vacuum. Here are some literature references you might want to look at. Steady State Etching of Copper-Cupric Chloride, Sodium Chloride Baths, L.Missel and F.D.Murphy, Metal Finishing, December 1969 p47-52,58. Steady State Regenerative Etching: A Technology Review, Marshal Gurian, ASI, Electronic Packaging and Production July 1978, p32-36. Etchant Fountain of Youth? Circuits Manufacturing, November 1976, p 72-73. I also think I heard that chlorine gas cylinders must now be in a enclosure that completely contains and neutralizes all gas if their is any accidental releases and you may want to ask about whether this is a requirement. [log in to unmask] The opinions expressed here are those of Ted Edwards and may or may not reflect the opinion of my employer. ---------- From: Ted Stern To: [log in to unmask] Subject: FAB: Cupric chloride regeneration with sodium chlorate Date: Wednesday, January 22, 1997 1:07PM I was wondering if any of you fabricators out there would provide me with information on the following: a. method of regerating CuCl2 final etch with sodium chlorate, including sodium chlorate concentration, HCl additions, rate of additions, equipment used; b. method of automated control (ie. ORP control versus colormetric control); and c. opinions on the ease of use (or lack thereof) of sodium chlorate versus chlorine gas; Thanks for you help! Ted Stern 612-479-6525 [log in to unmask] *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** ---------- From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Cupric Chloride Etchant Date: Monday, April 07, 1997 8:10PM One of our process engineers is contemplating changing the etcher chemistry. Potential changes include NaCl or sodium chlorate in traditional cupric chloride etching chemistry. Before initiating an evaluation of these changes, I would appreciate any responses to the following: Can anyone share any experiences (positive or negative) with using sodium chloride in cupric chloride etchant in order to increase etch rate? Are you currently using NaCl and if so, have you found any degredation of equipment due to corrosion? Any other comments? In the same vein, are there any Cupric etchers out there using sodium chlorate as the oxidant as opposed to hydrogen peroxide? Again, any positive/negative impacts? Thanks to any and all comments and responses. Dave Rooke Circo Craft - Pointe Claire *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To subscribe/unsubscribe send a message <to: [log in to unmask]> * * with <subject: subscribe/unsubscribe> and no text in the body. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * ***************************************************************************