Does muriatic acid work as well as ferric chloride for etching aluminum boxes?

[tehfunk]

I was wondering this because I can find muriatic acid at local hardware stores but not ferric chloride. If muriatic acid works well then I will probably buy it, unless someone knows of a particular hardware store chain that would carry ferric chloride. I checked ace hardware, home depot, and osh's websites none of them had it. Thanks!

[John Lyons]

It has more of a violent reaction but it does work.
I would mix it weaker (less H202) try 3 parts muratic to one part peroxide.

john

[David]

I was wondering this because I can find muriatic acid at local hardware stores but not ferric chloride. If muriatic acid works well then I will probably buy it, unless someone knows of a particular hardware store chain that would carry ferric chloride. I checked ace hardware, home depot, and osh's websites none of them had it. Thanks!

You'll also need hydrogen peroxide to catalyze the reaction.  For fastest results, swallow your pride and buy the 40% peroxide from -- a beauty supply.

[tehfunk]

It has more of a violent reaction but it does work.
I would mix it weaker (less H202) try 3 parts muratic to one part peroxide.

john

Weaker than what? but to clarify, you're saying a 3 to 1 ratio of HCl to H2O2? Is this going to etch faster, better, different, then ferric chloride?

You'll also need hydrogen peroxide to catalyze the reaction.  For fastest results, swallow your pride and buy the 40% peroxide from -- a beauty supply.

I'm not sure, but isn't that what john just said or no?

If I were to use ferric chloride, do you just use ferric chloride, nothing else? no h2O2, nothing? And, I am still wondering if anyone knows any places that would carry ferric chloride (not through the internet) just because that is the tried and true method? Thanks.

[John Lyons]

The Hydrogen peroxide/Muratic method is usually 3 to 1.

You'll also need hydrogen peroxide to catalyze the reaction.
For fastest results, swallow your pride and buy the 40% peroxide from -- a beauty supply.
I'm not sure, but isn't that what john just said or no?
Yes, that's the same thing I said.

With ferric Cloride you just use it by iteslf.
Unless there is an electronics shop that carries ferric chloride in your area then mail order is the only option.

I'm not sure which is better, ferric or muratic/hydrogen peroxide.
If you use peroxide get it at a beauty supply store as 40% solution ("clear" not creme
In this case you would use it roughly 1 to 1 or even less peroxide mixture as it's a lot more pure.


john

[Ripthorn]

Something that I picked up here at my local electronics shop is ferric chloride in powder form.  You add warm water to the strength you want and it works quite well.  I think the manufacturer was Datak or something like that.

[brett]

Hi
RE:

I'm not sure which is better, ferric or muratic/hydrogen peroxide.

It's fairly much the same process.  In water, and in contact with aluminium, ferric chloride donates H+ (protons) and Cl- ions (together, these ARE muriatic acid)

Ferric chloride and water and aluminium form as Ferric hydroxide (brown gunk) and Aluminium hydroxide (glutinous gunk) and chloride.
Muriatic acid and aluminium form Aluminium hydroxide (glutinous gunk) and chloride.  (Same result, except for the brown gunk).

Peroxide might be improving the solubility of the aluminium hydroxide (?) (It's not very soluble unless the pH is very low or very high)
cheers