PCB etchant chemistry

[George L.]

Hello,

As you probably know, when you etch copper PCBs you use a dark brown liquid called Ferric Chloride. Ferric Chloride can also be a yellowish powder. It eats up copper allowing you to create tracks on a PCB. A very similar chemical, Ferrous Chloride, is a blue-green powder.

Is it possible to convert Ferric Chloride (Etchant), which is available from every Radioshack, to Ferrous Chloride. The difference between the two is just their oxidation states (Wikipedia)

I would really appreciate some help.

Thanks

George L.

 

[adaminc]

I always thought the only 2 copper etchants used were Ferric Chloride and Ammonium Persulfate, the FC being yellow/brown and the AP being blue/green. I also remember reading somewhere that you can use Ferric Chloride to make MR Fluids.

 

[George L.]

Yes you are right...Ferrous Chloride is not used as an etchant...I am using it for a chemistry project.

George L.