Fall 1987
Spray Etching of Stainless Steel
The following presents some new test result’s on the spray
etching of precision piece-parts made from stainless steel. They
are a result of extensive research work., which was carried out in
the department of production engineering at the University of
Bremen.
The optimal application of this modern metal removal
process presupposes an extensive knowledge and control of the
process, as well as its parameter!. Fig. 1 shows the complex
network of dependent and independent parameter relationships.
The etching rale has a significant effect on the accuracy of
etch. This again depends stongly all the applied etchants and its
actual condition. The etchant, presently aqueous ferric chloride,
is not a constant parameter of the process. because it “dissipates”
due to reaction with the material. The chemo-physical variables,
such as concentration. pH. redox potential, surface tension and
viscosity change if the etchant is not freshened up or
regenerated permanently.
