Chemical etching, also known as chemical milling or acid etching, is a process used to selectively remove material from a metal surface using a chemical solution. This process can be used to create complex shapes, patterns, or designs on metal parts, and it is often used in the manufacturing of electronic components, medical devices, aerospace parts, and other precision components.

In chemical etching, a metal sheet is coated with a photoresist material and then exposed to light through a stencil or mask. The photoresist material hardens in the areas exposed to light, leaving the unexposed areas still soft and able to be removed by a chemical solution. The metal sheet is then immersed in a bath of etchant, which selectively dissolves the unprotected areas of the metal surface, leaving behind the desired shape or pattern.

The chemical solution used in etching depends on the type of metal being etched and the desired level of precision. Commonly used etchants include acids such as nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and ferric chloride.

Chemical etching offers several advantages over traditional mechanical methods of metal shaping, including the ability to produce complex shapes and patterns with high precision, and the ability to work with a variety of metals, including those that are difficult to machine. However, it also requires careful handling of hazardous chemicals and proper disposal of waste materials.

We have been at the forefront of etching technology for almost 60 years. This is because our unmatched chemical etching process know-how enables us to offer a fast, economical, quality-assured etching service for the widest range of metals.