Understanding Dry Film Resist Stripping in Photo Chemical Milling Process
Thursday, June 8, 2023
11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
Presented By:
Sean Hill, Product Manager, Eternal Technology Corporation
Photo-imageable dry film resist plays a critical role in photo chemical milling, however, the ability to effectively control related process parameters is often constrained beyond the limits of CM fabrication.
An example of this may be the need to effectively control etch rates and material output through DES operations. Reel-to-reel operations offer examples of even further potential constraints limiting optimum resist control.
Recent Webinars
December 2, 2022
Presented by:
Roger Zaccour, Cleanroom Solutions Specialist, from Stark Tech
Abstract:
The content of the presentation focuses on the concepts of designing a cleanroom. Cleanrooms have been used for years in many industries, pharmaceuticals, optics, geospatial, food prep, research, semiconductors and many more. In these challenging times of pandemics, Indoor Air Quality has been brought to the forefront, not only in cleanrooms but all over. This presentation will have a special focus on air flow, filtration, and maintenance that have always been a focus of cleanroom operations, but now these design ideas are being implemented in classrooms, gyms, offices, etc. A focus on cleaning the air to comply with many regulations of the CDC, WHO, IEST, ASHARE and other agencies. This is a confusing time for many, and this presentation is designed to provide education on new and older technologies and coordination with all these guidelines and regulations.
March 30, 2022
Presented by:
Peter Jefferies, Innovation Technology Leader Heatric, Division of Meggitt, UK’
David Allen, Emeritus Professor of Microengineering, Cranfield University, UK
Abstract
This webinar is being designed to be different in format from PCMI webinars previously held. It is intended that this webinar will be an interactive workshop and that registered delegates will be sent a questionnaire prior to the webinar regarding company consumption of ferric chloride etchant and the volumes of etchant that require disposal over a year of etching activity.
Professor Allen will introduce the topic for the webinar and refer to research suggesting that, after etching materials such as stainless steels, the dissolved nickel and chromium can be removed from the spent etchant by the process of solvent extraction.
Dr Jefferies will follow up by providing details of the extremely large volumes of spent ferric chloride generated within Heatric and will outline the increasing running costs involved as waste disposal costs continue to increase. He will also illustrate how solvent extraction of dissolved metals would reduce those costs and lower the environmental impact of ferric chloride waste.
After discussions with delegates on volumes of waste ferric chloride generated within their companies, David Smith from De Dietrich Process Systems will show how the industrial process of solvent extraction could be used to remove nickel and chromium salts from spent etchant so that the ferric chloride can be purified for further etching in its regenerated form or sold as a useful starting material for processes such as flocculation in wastewater treatment.
It is hoped that this workshop will result in a consortium of PCM companies interested in supporting practical initiatives to explore economic methods of dissolved metal extraction from spent ferric chloride etchant.
February 23, 2022
Presented by:
David Allen, Emeritus Professor of Microengineering, Cranfield University, UK
Peter Jefferies, Innovation Technology Leader Heatric, Division of Meggitt, UK
Abstract
This webinar reviewed etchants used in the PCM industry. Data has been abstracted from 25 years of PCMI surveys on etchant usage and materials etched. The information presented details
pros and cons of etchant selection,
best practices,
lowering of costs/environmental impact by etchant regeneration and
health, safety, and disposal issues
for the six most commonly-used PCM etchants (ferric chloride, ferric nitrate, cupric chloride, hydrofluoric acid, potassium ferricyanide, and iodine/potassium iodide).
This webinar is specifically targeted at personnel working with PCM who wish to know more about the range of etchants used within the PCM industry and how best to apply them to etch a wide range of metals and alloys.
December 2, 2021
Presented by:
Kirk Lauver, Marketing Specialist, Chemcut Corporation, US
Abstract
Maintenance is usually looked at as mechanical and electrical part replacement. PCM etching equipment requires both special materials of construction and chemical solutions that are not part of the average maintenance technician’s training. Therefore, topics for this presentation will focus on these specialized areas:
Lubricants for plastics and elastomer components;
Centrifugal pumps with a little pump science;
Chemistry issues affecting etching machine cleaning (performance); and
Nozzle cleaning and inspection with a little nozzle science
September 2, 2021
Presented by:
Sean Hill, Project Manager, Eternal Technology Corporation
Abstract
Surface preparations are the foundations for resist adhesion in the chemical milling industry. During his presentation, Sean will review all the different types of surface preparations used in the chemical milling industry. He will also cover both chemical and mechanical methods of surface preparation for enhanced DFR and DFSM adhesion.
This webinar will review the process controls associated with the chemical maintenance and management of the surface treatment process, including:
- Concentrations
- Temperatures
- Dwell/spray times
- Mechanical abrasive types/devices
- Process of records
June 30, 2021
Presented by:
Alexis Guilbert, Sales & Product Manager, Altix
Abstract
During this webinar, Alexis Guilbert will review and compare standard exposure products with new imaging innovations and outline the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies.
This lecture is for the technically seasoned PCM professional who wants to hear about the differences between the new technologies and convention imaging solutions, plus what is new and of benefit to the PCM industry. Alexis will provide detail on the evolution of the technology, its cost-effectiveness, and maintenance protocols.
During the webinar, Alexis will also share information about Altix equipment features and answer questions about how this technology can work for PCM companies.
May 26, 2022
Presented by:
Kirk Lauver, Marketing Specialist, Chemcut Corporation, US
Abstract
This presentation is an overview of common regeneration systems for ferric chloride etching systems. Regeneration systems are often used in the photochemical machining industry to improve yields and productivity by maintaining a consistent chemical activity in the etching solution.
Topics include regeneration systems using chloride gas, sodium chlorate and electrolytic cells.
For each method, an overview of the typical installation, hardware and operation is included. Additionally, the chemical requirements and the required maintenance of a regeneration system and its connected etching machine is also included in the discussion.
April 15, 2021
Presented by:
David Allen, Emeritus Professor of Microengineering, Cranfield University, UK
Abstract
This webinar details the chemistry and control of etching carbon steels and stainless steels with aqueous ferric chloride solution. In general, as material dissolves into solution, the composition of the etchant changes such that the concentration of ferric chloride decreases, the concentration of ferrous chloride increases and the concentrations of dissolved metals increase.
This change in etchant composition results in a change of etch rate and requires strict control to enable high yields of products to be manufactured within dimensional specifications. For controlled PCM, the equivalent of “a sharp cutting tool” is “a constant etchant pool”.
Control of the etchant pool entails monitoring of
- etchant concentration changes via the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP),
- free hydrochloric acid content,
- dissolved metal concentrations and, most importantly,
- maintaining constant etchant temperature.
Ideally, these processes are carried out on-line and in real time to allow automated additions of ferric chloride (if required), hydrochloric acid and oxidising agents that recycle the ferrous chloride waste product back to ferric chloride etchant.
It is essential that the chemistry of the control processes is thoroughly understood so that the controls are effective and efficient, resulting in improved product yield and accrued financial and environmental benefits.
