Electro etching

Electroetching is a chemical machining process with which metals or metal layers can be removed with the help of an electric current . It is a special form of etching that does not require the use of corrosive substances. At the same time, the process is a special case of electroplating .

Working principle

Here, the workpiece is first protected with a lacquer in the areas that are not to be processed . The workpiece to be processed is then immersed in an electrolyte and connected to a circuit as an anode . A second electrode , mostly made of precious metal , is immersed in the electrolyte as a cathode . When a current is applied, metal ions are released from the anode and migrate through the electrolyte to the cathode. Here the ions are neutralized again and either separate or fall out of the solution as a precipitate . The material on the anode slowly decreases in the areas not covered with lacquer.

use

The process is used for etching metals. The advantage is that no corrosive liquids or gases have to be used. Furthermore, metal layers can be removed selectively because not all metals dissolve equally well in an electrolyte. If specific areas of a workpiece are covered with a mask, a wide variety of patterns can be created on the surface.