Chemical methods of etching metals. simple recipes

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FACTORY TECHNOLOGIES AT HOME - SIMPLE RECIPES
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Chemical methods of etching metals. Simple recipes and tips

Factory technologies - simple recipes

Directory / Factory technology at home - simple recipes

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pickling called a method of reproducing, using chemical means, drawings, ornaments, inscriptions, etc. on the surface of metal objects.

Etching is carried out in two ways: it is possible to cover all the lines and surfaces of the pattern with the substance on which the mordant acts; on the contrary, it is possible to protect all gaps from the action of acids, leaving the lines and surfaces of the pattern free. If you then cover the entire surface with acid, then in the first case the drawing will turn out to be slightly embossed, in the second - the drawing will come out in-depth.

As simple as the etching operation at first glance, beginners often fail, especially when etching thin and complex patterns. Before applying a protective coating, the surface to be treated should be thoroughly cleaned of a thin coating of rust, grease and other dirt. Fat adhering to the surface can be removed by washing in alcohol or gasoline, calcining, or, finally, boiling in a solution of soda or caustic sodium. The object, cleaned of dirt and grease, is immersed in a 10% solution of sulfuric acid and left in it until the dark coating of rust disappears. After that, the surface to be treated can be polished if the shape of the object allows and its purpose does not contradict this operation. But such pre-polishing is not required.

The cleaned surface should not be touched with bare fingers, since there is always a greater or lesser amount of fatty substance on them, and the mordant does not affect the fat. When the surface to be etched is clean enough to have a fresh metallic sheen, the protective coating is applied. A good coating can be prepared as follows: melt 1 part of asphalt and 2 parts of mastic, mix the mixture and add 2 parts of white wax to it. Upon cooling, this composition is formed into balls and cones, which are first wrapped in a cloth made of thin dense fabric, and on top - in dry taffeta.

The composition is applied to the surface as follows: the workpiece is heated and, gently pressing on the surface, they are driven evenly over it with a mass wrapped in taffeta; at the same time, the composition melts and seeps through the rag, covering the rubbed surface with a thin layer. When this coating hardens, it is covered with a thin layer of white lead, finely ground and dissolved in a solution of gum arabic. Then, using blue paper, the required drawing or inscription is transferred to a white surface. All places that need to be etched are scraped to the surface of the metal. A thin and sharp engraving needle can reproduce even the finest shading of a picture.

If you want to etch a simple figure or an inscription, then the protective coating can be diluted with some liquid, such as turpentine, to the consistency of thick oil paint. On such a coating, it is possible to reproduce the required drawing by hand with a needle or even a steel pen.

When applying a protective coating, it is necessary to ensure that the metal surface is completely dry, otherwise the coating will not stick well in places, and the acid may then penetrate to the metal and etch away the places that should remain intact.

Mordant for copper, brass, bronze and silver products is the following mixture: 3 parts of a saturated aqueous solution of copper nitrate and 1 part of a saturated acetic solution of ammonia.

For iron and steel, the following mixture is recommended: 400 parts of water, 2-3 drops of nitric acid, 15 parts of calomea (mercury chloride) and 1 part of tartaric acid.

The object to be etched is lowered into a glazed clay cuvette (bath), into which the appropriate solvent is poured. If the surface to be treated is flat, then you can set it in a horizontal position, fashion a finger-thick bead of wax around the edges, and pour the appropriate acid into the flat cuvette thus obtained. When the etching is considered complete, the object is rinsed in clean water, and the protective coating is removed by heating or washed off with turpentine. If a certain amount of etchant remains in the recesses, then over time it will corrode the metal surface in places deeper than required.

To avoid this, the washed object is placed for several minutes in lime water, which neutralizes the acid residue.

Author: Korolev V.A.

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