Chemical etching is a technique used to remove the material with a high-pressure, high-temperature chemical spray, creating a permanently etched image in metal. A resist is applied to the material’s surface and is selectively removed, revealing the underlying metal. This process is then repeated to create the desired image. An etching machine uses a corrosive reaction between a chemical and a material to create an image. The machine is then heated and sprayed at high pressure to amplify the effect. 

 

The chemical spray dissolves the unprotected metal areas, etching the material atom by atom for a smooth, burr-free finish. Almost any metal and metal alloy can be chemically etched. This includes steel and stainless steel, nickel, copper and aluminum. Most metals are etched using a ferric chloride etchant which is safe to use and can be recycled. Ferric chloride can be recycled and reused. Other types of proprietary etchants, such as nitric acid, are used for specific types of metals and alloys.

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