Printed Circuit Copper Etchants
Ferric chloride solutions for etching copper, copper alloy and Kovar in printed circuit board applications. Ammonium Persulfate Etchant for Thin Film applications.
PC COPPER ETCHANT -100
For immersion etching
PC COPPER ETCHANT -200
For spray etching techniques
APS-100 COPPER ETCHANT
For thin film and PC circuits
FEATURES
- Ready – to – use
- Highly compatible with widely used photoresists
- Etches copper with straight sides
- Easily processed
PRINTED CIRCUIT COPPER ETCHANTS
DESCRIPTION
Transene Printed Circuit Copper Etchants (CE-100 and CE-200) are ferric chloride solutions formulated with proprietary wetting antifoam plus chelating additives to optimize etching performance. Ferric chloride solutions are the most widely used etchants for copper, copper alloys and Kovar in printed circuit board applications. The etchants are highly compatible with commonly used photoresists (KLT 6000 series, KLT 5003 series, TRANSIST, HARE SQ, PKP-308PI, AZ, Dow) These etchants should not be used when solder-plated resists are employed.
APS-100 Copper Etchant is formulated for controlled etching providing fine line definition suitable for thin film circuits. Additionally, compatibility with tin-lead solders is assured.
PC COPPER ETCHANTS
PROPERTIES OF TRANSENE COPPER ETCHANT CE-100
| How do I increase the etch rate? | 1. The rate will approximately double with every 10°C increase in temperature. 2. Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| How do I reduce the etch rate? | Adding 1 part deionized water to 2 parts etchant will reduce the etch rate approximately 50%. |
| Do I need to dilute the etchant? | No, it is ready to use. |
| How do I reduce undercutting? | Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| Appearance | Brown |
| pH | Acidic |
| Etch Rate at 40°C | 1 mil/minute (etches 1 oz copper in 90 seconds) |
| Etch Capacity (rate declines at ~70%) | 19 oz/gallon |
| Shelf Life | 1 year |
| Storage Conditions | Ambient |
| Filtration | 1 um |
| Recommended Operating Temperatures | 20-80oC (30-40oC most common) |
| Rinse | Deionized water |
| Photoresist Recommendations | KLT6000 Series, KLT 5300 Series, HARE SQ (SU-8 type), TRANSIST, or PKP-308PI |
| Select Compatible Materials | Au, oxide, nitride, alumina
See https://transene.com/etch-compatibility/ for more details. |
| Select Incompatible Materials | Al, Ni, Ti |
| Compatible Plastics | HDPE, PP, Teflon, PFA, PVC |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Availability | Stock item |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon, 55 Gallon |
| Packaging | HDPE |
| Packing | 4 gallons/case |
| Isotropy | Isotropic |
| Incompatible Chemicals | Strong bases, nitric acid |
| Additional Information | Immersion or spray application |
PROPERTIES OF TRANSENE COPPER ETCHANT CE-200
| How do I increase the etch rate? | 1. The rate will approximately double with every 10°C increase in temperature. 2. Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| How do I reduce the etch rate? | Adding 1 part deionized water to 2 parts etchant will reduce the etch rate approximately 50%. |
| Do I need to dilute the etchant? | No, it is ready to use. |
| How do I reduce undercutting? | Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| Appearance | Brown |
| pH | Acidic |
| Etch Rate at 40°C | 0.5 mil/minute (etches 1 oz copper in 180 seconds) |
| Etch Capacity (rate declines at ~70%) | 14 oz/gallon |
| Shelf Life | 1 year |
| Storage Conditions | Ambient |
| Filtration | 1 um |
| Recommended Operating Temperatures | 20-80oC (30-40oC most common) |
| Rinse | Deionized water |
| Photoresist Recommendations | KLT6000 Series, KLT 5300 Series, HARE SQ (SU-8 type), TRANSIST, or PKP-308PI |
| Select Compatible Materials | Au, oxide, nitride, alumina
See https://transene.com/etch-compatibility/ for more details. |
| Select Incompatible Materials | Al, Ni, Ti |
| Compatible Plastics | HDPE, PP, Teflon, PFA, PVC |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Availability | Stock item |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon, 55 Gallon |
| Packaging | HDPE |
| Packing | 4 gallons/case |
| Isotropy | Isotropic |
| Incompatible Chemicals | Strong bases, nitric acid |
| Additional Information | Immersion or spray application |
PROPERTIES OF TRANSENE COPPER ETCHANT APS-100
| How do I increase the etch rate? | 1. The rate will approximately double with every 10°C increase in temperature. 2. Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| How do I reduce the etch rate? | Adding 1 part deionized water to 2 parts etchant will reduce the etch rate approximately 50%. |
| Do I need to dilute the etchant? | No, it is ready to use. |
| How do I reduce undercutting? | Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| Appearance | Water-white |
| pH | Acidic |
| Etch Rate at 40°C | 80 Å /second (etches 1 oz copper in 7 ½ minutes) |
| Etch Capacity (rate declines at ~70%) | 10 oz/gallon |
| Shelf Life | 6 months |
| Storage Conditions | Ambient |
| Filtration | 1 um |
| Recommended Operating Temperatures | 20-80oC (30-40oC most common) |
| Rinse | Deionized water |
| Photoresist Recommendations | KLT6000 Series, KLT 5300 Series, HARE SQ (SU-8 type), TRANSIST, or PKP-308PI |
| Select Compatible Materials | Au, oxide, nitride, alumina
See https://transene.com/etch-compatibility/ for more details. |
| Select Incompatible Materials | Al, Ni |
| Compatible Plastics | HDPE, PP, Teflon, PFA, PVC |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Availability | 1-2 days |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon, 55 Gallon |
| Packaging | HDPE |
| Packing | 4 gallons/case |
| Isotropy | Isotropic |
| Incompatible Chemicals | Flammables, combustibles, strong bases |
| Additional Information | Immersion or spray application. Vented cap storage |
APPLICATION:
Copper Immersion Etchant (CE-100) is supplied ready-to-use. Recommended operating temperature is 40-60 °C. Many users discard spent etchant at 50% solution exhaustion (i.e. after etching 8-10 oz. Cu metal/gal.) and replace with fresh etchant.
After etching 8 oz. Cu metal/gal. etch rates may become longer than desired. Addition of 500 ml HCl (37%) per gallon of etchant will effectively increase etch rate and allow use of etchant to 70% solution exhaustion (14 oz. Cu metal/gal.) Agitation of work in the etchant bath is advisable and will increase etch rates and improve definition.
Copper Spray Etchant (CE-200) is supplied ready-to-use. The recommended operating temperature is
40-60 °C. Its use is recommended for spray etching techniques and will provide precision etching at controlled rates. Spent etchant should be discarded and replaced with fresh etchant when etch rates become longer than desired. (i.e. 7-8 oz. Cu metal/gal.)
After etching with either CE-100 or CE-200, rinse work with heavy water spray followed by a rinse with 5 – 10% HCl (or oxalic acid) then final water spray.
ETCHING TANK AND EQUIPMENT – DISPOSAL OF SPENT ETCHANT
Use PVC, glass, or epoxy-coated tanks. Heaters may be quartz, carbon or titanium. Neutralize spent CE-100/200 with calcium carbonate and dilute with water. Sewer disposal is not recommended.
SELECTIVE COPPER ETCHANTS
Copper Etchant 49-1
Copper Etchant BTP
DESCRIPTION:
Transene Copper Etchant 49-1 is a high purity, controllable etchant for specific microelectronic etch applications such as gallium arsenide or copper. Copper Etchant 49-1 is fully compatible with solders used in new lead free technology such as 100% tin and tin 97%-silver 3% as well as gold, nickel, and nickel-vanadium alloys. Copper Etch BTP provides a faster etch rate while maintaining nickel compatibility.
Copper Etchant 49-1 White Paper
PROPERTIES OF TRANSENE COPPER ETCHANT 49-1
| How do I increase the etch rate? | 1. The rate will approximately double with every 10°C increase in temperature. 2. Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| How do I reduce the etch rate? | Adding 1 part deionized water to 2 parts etchant will reduce the etch rate approximately 50%. |
| Do I need to dilute the etchant? | No, it is ready to use. |
| How do I reduce undercutting? | Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| Appearance | Clear, Colorless |
| pH | 5.9-6.3 |
| Etch Rate at 25°C | 40 Å/second |
| Etch Capacity (rate declines at ~70%) | Typically 90-100 wafers/gallon |
| Shelf Life | 9 months |
| Storage Conditions | Ambient, but refrigeration preferred |
| Filtration | 1 um |
| Recommended Operating Temperatures | 20-80oC (30-40oC most common) |
| Rinse | Deionized water |
| Photoresist Recommendations | KLT6000 Series, KLT 5300 Series, HARE SQ (SU-8 type), TRANSIST, or PKP-308PI |
| Select Compatible Materials | Au, Ti, oxide, nitride, Si, Ni
See https://transene.com/etch-compatibility/ for more details. |
| Select Incompatible Materials | III-V, Zn |
| Compatible Plastics | HDPE, PP, Teflon, PFA, PVC |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Availability | 1-2 days |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon, 55 Gallon |
| Packaging | HDPE |
| Packing | 4 gallons/case |
| Isotropy | Isotropic |
| Incompatible Chemicals | Strong bases |
| Additional Information | Extend bath life by monitoring/maintaining peroxide concentration and pH |
PROPERTIES OF TRANSENE COPPER ETCHANT BTP
| How do I increase the etch rate? | 1. The rate will approximately double with every 10°C increase in temperature. 2. Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| How do I reduce the etch rate? | Adding 1 part deionized water to 2 parts etchant will reduce the etch rate approximately 50%. |
| Do I need to dilute the etchant? | No, it is ready to use. |
| How do I reduce undercutting? | Increase the rate of stirring or agitation. |
| Appearance | Deep purple |
| pH | >9 |
| Etch Rate at 30°C | 150 Å/second |
| Etch Capacity (rate declines at ~70%) | 65 g/gallon |
| Shelf Life | 1 year |
| Storage Conditions | Ambient |
| Filtration | 1 um |
| Recommended Operating Temperatures | 20-80oC (30-40oC most common) |
| Rinse | Deionized water |
| Photoresist Recommendations | PKP-308PI, HARE SQ (SU-8 type) |
| Select Compatible Materials | Au, oxide, nitride, Ni, Ti
See https://transene.com/etch-compatibility/ for more details. |
| Select Incompatible Materials | — |
| Compatible Plastics | HDPE, PP, Teflon, PFA, PVC |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Availability | 1-2 days |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon, 55 Gallon |
| Packaging | HDPE |
| Packing | 4 gallons/case |
| Isotropy | Isotropic |
| Incompatible Chemicals | Strong acids |
| Additional Information | — |
APPLICATION:
Selective Copper Etchants are best used at slightly elevated temperatures. Avoid temperatures above 60 °C. Continuous mild agitation is required.
Selective Copper Etchants are manufactured using high purity raw materials such as semi or ACS Reagent chemicals and 10-18 Mohm.cm resistivity deionized water. The pH of both solutions is maintained using ammonium hydroxide.
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