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ACID
ETCHING
What is Acid Etching?
Acid Etching is defined as the process of cutting a hard surface, such as metal, using a corrosive chemical (etchant) in order to create a design onto the metal.
In this fast-moving manufacturing age, ACE has a proven track record of developing precision acid etched components. We are constantly creating innovative chemical etching techniques and manufacturing millions of etched components every year in 2000 different metals and in thicknesses of five microns to 2.5mm. Our team of technical experts are ready to advise on standard products for your sector or bespoke components that meet a specific technical application.
How To Acid Etch Metal IN 8 STEPS
The etching process using etching acid is multistage and can be broken down into a series of eight steps:
1. Choosing The Metal
2. Metal Cleaning
3. Lamination
4. Printing
5. Developing
6. Etching
7. Stripping
8. Inspecting & Finishing
The Etching Process
The etching process allows both surface etched detail and cut through areas to be produced at the same time onto metal thicknesses up to 1.5mm.
Etched Raised Areas
Alternatively, surface etched raised areas are produced by applying etching acid to one side only… an example is the manufacture of metal etched paper dies.
Metal Surface Etching
Etching detail can also be etched into the metal surface only… for uses such as etched presentation plaques or etched signage.
To Bear In Mind…
Unfortunately we are not able to put designs onto finished metal components or shaped metal items. Etching metal is performed by applying etching acid to perfectly flat sheets of metal. Please also note we are only able to etch metal.
Acid Etching Metal - Materials We Work With
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Acid Etching Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel remains one of the most popular metals Advanced Chemical Etching produce acid etched components in, due in part to is outstanding corrosion and oxidisation resistance. Acid etching Stainless Steel can produce multi complex profile shapes with burr-free edges - no finishing required. This material's versatility makes etching Stainless Steel a valuable process for a wide variety of industry sectors.
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Acid Etching Aluminium
Aluminium and its alloys are prized in engineering for their lightweight durability that enables energy saving - however acid etching Aluminium has generally been considered a difficult and slow process using conventional chemistry. Advanced Chemical Etching have pioneered a unique process for etching Aluminium that is safer and more controllable than the industry standard.
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Acid Etching Titanium
Titanium is renowned for its strength and high-temperature performance, however, using etching acid on Titanium is difficult due to the oxidised coating that forms when exposed to air. Advanced Chemical Etching is the first chemical etching company to develop a unique, safer chemistry for etching Titanium, and is one of the few chemical etching companies that have production capacity for etching Titanium.
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Other Metals We Acid Etch...
Advanced Chemical Etching can etch a number of innovative materials. We have developed our own processes for etching Copper, Nitinol, Elgiloy, Iron and Nickel to name a few. Please contact our team if you have a project that requires a metal type you do not find on our site - we will always do our best to accommodate your specification.
The Chemistry Of Etching Acid
At Advanced Chemical Etching, our preferred etchant (etching acid) is Ferric Chloride (FeCl3). Acid etching metal can be traced back as far as 1531, when the French scholar Jehan le Begue wrote a recipe for acid etching on iron, distilling ammonium chloride, ordinary alum and ferrous sulphate in a mixture of water and vinegar. Now Advanced Chemical Etching produces acid etched metal parts in a large variety of materials, and have pioneered new processes for etching Stainless Steel, Titanium, Aluminium and much more.
Want to learn even more about the chemistry behind the etching process? Read our white paper “How does chemical etching work?“
