Muriatic - will this brick cleaner do?

[Deano]

In the UK i am having trouble finding the muriatic/hydrochloric acid that lots of people here use for etching.

Will this brick cleaner from Wickes do the job?
http://www.wickes.co.uk/content/ebiz/wickes/resources/images/coshh/153779.pdf

It says the composition of ingredients is 5-10% hydrochloric acid.

[5thumbs]

I've not used HCl (muriatic acid) for etching before, but the common, bulk HCl I get for other projects has a concentration of 28%.  Less concentrated stuff should still work, just take longer and use more acid.

[MikeH]

I'd say maybe, but probably not.  Muriatic is 3 to 5 times stronger than that stuff.  It will etch, but my guess would be it will etch too slow and your traces will lift- that is, if you're using pnp blue.  I don't know about other etching methods.

[David]

Gents, you're forgetting about the hydrogen peroxide...

[MikeH]

Well, of course- you still have to mix it with some H2O2 to make it work.  With 33% muriatic I usually use a 1:1 mix- Since there's 3 to 6 times less acid in the brick cleaner, maybe you could do a 3:1 to 6:1 acid to peroxide mix and get the same results.  I'm not much of a chemist, btu I do know if you solution doesn't etch fast enough, it won't work.

[FisTheGoon]

Well, of course- you still have to mix it with some H2O2 to make it work.  With 33% muriatic I usually use a 1:1 mix- Since there's 3 to 6 times less acid in the brick cleaner, maybe you could do a 3:1 to 6:1 acid to peroxide mix and get the same results.  I'm not much of a chemist, btu I do know if you solution doesn't etch fast enough, it won't work.

Well can any confirmed the above?  I got a cleaner with 8.5% hydrochloric acid and  3% hydrogen peroxide.If the anyone can confirm the mixture, i might try to etch.   

[FisTheGoon]

Hi again.Since nobody reply to the question, i did the test myself.
The chemical used
1. Duck bathroom cleaner-contain 8.5% of hydrochloric acid.
2. Hydrogen peroxide- contain only 3%

My 1st mix ratio is 1:3 peroxide to hydrochloric.It took almost an 0.5 hr to etch a bit.  It really pissed me off take  a look at it every 5 min.  I remember that peroxide can speed up the etch process.So without hesitation, i add 1 ratio of peroxide.5 min later, the etching process is done.    I'm glad it work out fine at last.FYI, i etch  Mark Hammer Chaos.

For Deano i think you be able to do the etching with the cleaner you mention.Just need trial and error b4 you succeed.Have a nice day.

[forestcaver]

I use Ferric Chloride (I am in the UK), available pretty much everywhere...

eg at Rapid, Maplin's etc.

Very naive question: what are the benefits of muriatic acid over ferric chloride ? (Are there any ?)

Cheers,
Andy

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

Ferric is difficult for some people to get.
And it stains horribly if it gets on your clothes or skin.. but since hydrochloric doesn't do your clothes or skin any good either, there isn't much in it. It might be easier to see what is happening, with hydrocholoric.

[forestcaver]

Thanks for the reply Paul...

Cheers,
Andy

[8mileshigh]

HCl vapors are really irritating.  Use an organic vapor cartridge mask, a face sheild and long latex rubber gloves.   Do not heat any solutions containing peroxides either, they explode.

Chris