Spring 1990
A Supplier’s View of Ferric Chloride Etchants
The 1980s saw the end of ferric chloride as a significant
etchant in the printed circuit industry. The PCM industry
remains reliant on ferric chloride for the majority of its etching
requirements. Ferric chloride etchants became a commodity in
the 1980s as a suitable product was made available by many
producers. The disposal of spent etchant replaced specialty
formulation and process technical service as concerns for which
the PCM industry looked to etchant suppliers for assistance.
These trends are expected to continue in the 1990s.
