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.