Sodium Persulfate vs Ferric Chloride

[markmcconachie]

Has anyone had experience with Sodium Persulfate?

I was all ready to etch my first enclosure, had my toner template ironed on etc, put it in my etching solution (Sodium Persulfate) and... nothing.

Is this because I was using Sodium Persulfate? or was I doing something else wrong?

Does Sodium Persulfate compare to Ferric Chloride?

Does anyone know where I can buy Ferric Chloride in Germany?

[ORK]

The persulfate needs to be heated to ~50°-60°C.

edit: to etch copper, that is.

[sundgist]

Sodium Persulfate won't etch aluminium.

Works nicely for PCB's, stays clear and doesn't go dirty brown like FeCl.
It does work better when warmed up.

[Seljer]

Conrad.de has got ferric choloride in granule form for reasonably cheap.

[markmcconachie]

Yea, it has been fine on the pcbs.

I didn't find it on Conrad.de, I will look again.
Is it straight forward to prepare from granules?

[sundgist]

Is it straight forward to prepare from granules?

Like a well known instant gravy.... just add water. 

[Seljer]

Yea, it has been fine on the pcbs.

I didn't find it on Conrad.de, I will look again.
Is it straight forward to prepare from granules?

its listed as "eisen-III-chlorid"

[markmcconachie]

I understand why I never found it.

I speak very little German (I really should learn, I have been here for almost a year - I am Scottish) so I clicked the english icon... This took me to the
international store and obviously it's not something that they can ship International.

I will get it ordered tonight.