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How do you store ferric chloride?
1 Answer. If you store Ferric Chloride in a sealed glass jar, it stays viable for years – I have some that I prepared 10 years ago and it still works fine.
Can you store ferric chloride in plastic?
Dave Stephens. I’ve had ferric chloride in a 3′ long tube of PVC for almost three years now and it’s held up just fine. Easy. Cheap.
Does ferric chloride have a shelf life?
The generally accepted shelf life of ferric chloride solution is approximately six months. Adding HCl acid can restore the cutting ability of the FeCl3.
What is ferric chloride used for?
The primary use of ferric chloride is to remove impurities in water and for wastewater treatment. Ferric chloride is also one of the few water treatment chemicals that can sequester odors.
Will ferric chloride eat PVC?
The 5% FeCl3 will eat through the metal far slower than the 35% FeCl3. Nonetheless, it will eventually eat through it. If metal has to be used, it should be rubber-lined or epoxy coated. Many plastics (e.g., CPVC, PVC, PTFE, PP) and rubber are recommended.
How long does it take to etch copper with ferric chloride?
Leave the copper blank in the solution for at least half an hour. At 5-10 minute intervals, gently stir the copper etching solution to agitate the solution. Remember to wear safety goggles and gloves at all times. Once the half hour is up, check the etching to make sure you’re happy with the result.
What happens when you add water to ferric chloride?
When dissolved in water, iron(III) chloride undergoes hydrolysis and gives off heat in an exothermic reaction. The resulting brown, acidic, and corrosive solution is used as a flocculant in sewage treatment and drinking water production, and as an etchant for copper-based metals in printed circuit boards.
What happens when you mix ferric chloride and hydrochloric acid?
Ferric chloride hydrolyzes easily to iron (III) oxide and hydrochloric acid.
Can you use ferric chloride as an etchant?
I’ve just got hold of a nice little PCB etching kit, which uses ferric chloride as the etchant. I know it’s re-usable for at least a few etches (though the kit doesn’t actually specify an estimated re-use count) but after that I’ll need to dispose of the used chemical.
How is FeCl3 etchant stored in a PCB?
Many vendors of the chemical and several PCB fabrication tutorials clearly state that FeCl3 etchant stores indefinitely if kept in an airtight container. On the other hand commercial PCB etching devices purposefully stir the etchant by blowing air bubbles trough it, oxygenating the solution in the process, seemingly without adverse effects.
Can you store ferric chloride in a glass jar?
On the other hand commercial PCB etching devices purposefully stir the etchant by blowing air bubbles trough it, oxygenating the solution in the process, seemingly without adverse effects. If you store Ferric Chloride in a sealed glass jar, it stays viable for years – I have some that I prepared 10 years ago and it still works fine.
What’s the best way to dispose of ferric chloride?
It also means you don’t pollute your jar of ferric chloride with copper meaning it stays at full strength. Ferric Chloride isn’t nice stuff in terms of disposal (well in terms of anything but etching speed really), so the alternative would be to go the safer route of using Hydrochloric Acid + Hydrogen Peroxide.