March 2002

An Efficient Method for Nickel Removal from Iron Chloride Solutions

Ferric chloride solution is widely used in the photochemical machining (peM) industry for etching nickel-eomaining alloys and stainless steels. The end products have found many applications in areas slich as semiconductor lead frames, cathode ray shadow masks, heating clements, suspension-arms of PC hard drives, filters and meshes. Nickel and other alia)' components were dissolved into ferric chloride ctchant during a peM etching process. The accumulation of nickel in the etchant bath has detrimental effects such as slowing do\n the etch rate and causing a rougher surface finish.

Gang Zhao and H. Wayne Richardson, Phibro-Tech, Inc.