Etching Limits for Fine Lines and Spaces

Abstract: In August 2006, a customer requested a test to etch 50µm lines and spaces in 18µm foil that had been panel plated to a total thickness of 30µm.  Because the final etch results are so dependent on pre-process steps we have no control over, Chemcut Corporation had never offered an unconditional etcher performance guarantee for 50µm lines and spaces for foil thickness greater than 18µm. Based on four test rounds, Don Ball and Juming Wang review various options for etching limits for fine lines and spaces. The results and conclusions can be found in this publication.