The Investigation of Etching Mechanistics Using a Polarization Technique Part II

The evaluation of a technique to investigate the mechanistics of spray etching using a purpose designed apparatus, with which the etch rate of copper in ferric chloride soluation was determined by psuedo Tafel slope extrapolation and the result agreed to within 3% of a weight loss control. An apparent shift of the Tafel region to higher overpotentials was observed which cannot be fully explained at this time, but a tentative explanation is offered. Experimental evidience indicates cathodic control of the corrosion reaction under static conditions gives way to mixed control under spraying conditions.