Chemical Etching Formula
1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy
with FeCl₃+HCl
Formula Summary
The table below summarizes every parameter that defines this etching formula. Values listed as ranges scale with sheet thickness across the supported band.
Why FeCl₃+HCl for 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy?
Ferric-chloride-based formulas are the industrial workhorse for ferrous, nickel, and copper-bearing alloys like 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy. The Fe³⁺ ion oxidizes the metal surface; where HCl is present it regenerates dissolved species and stabilizes chloride concentration. The result on 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy is anisotropic etching with predictable undercut and an easily regenerated spent bath.
Process Window & Bath Control
Bath control for 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy in FeCl₃+HCl: temperature 48°C, concentration 42 °Bé, specific gravity 1.390. The recipe is tuned for through etch (double-sided). Conveyor speed is the primary throughput control, ranging 0.17-0.9 m/min across the supported thickness range. Check specific gravity each shift with a calibrated hydrometer and correct with fresh make-up or water as needed.
Design Rules & Tolerances
Design rules for this recipe: hole diameter 120-360 μm, line width 100-300 μm, single-side undercut 19-57 μm — all as a function of thickness across 0.1-0.3 mm. The higher the etch factor (this formula holds about 2.65), the tighter the achievable tolerance. Below the minimum feature sizes, yield falls off steeply, so treat those numbers as hard floors rather than targets.
• Minimum hole diameter range: 120-360 μm
• Minimum line width range: 100-300 μm
• Single-side undercut range: 19-57 μm
• Typical etch factor (EF): 2.65
Yield & Production Economics
Expect a yield in the 95.6-96.2% range for 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy with FeCl₃+HCl, with 95.9% typical on a well-controlled line. Most rejects trace back to upstream coating and exposure rather than to the etch bath itself, so tightening photolithography control is usually the fastest path to a higher number.
Typical Applications
Typical applications for 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy processed with FeCl₃+HCl include wear-resistant blades, springs, and high-temperature precision parts. The formula's tolerance band and yield make it well suited to medium-to-high-volume precision flat parts.
Process Equipment & Material Reference
Production of 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy parts using the FeCl₃+HCl formula described above runs on a wet chemical etching machine configured for through etch (double-sided). The bath chemistry, conveyor speed, and rinse cascade detailed on this page reflect the operating profile we use on a live spray-etching line for this alloy.
For a broader treatment of the material itself — alloy variants, surface preparation, and process limits across thickness ranges — see our Cobalt chemical etching guide. That overview complements the formula-specific bath and conveyor data on this page.
Production Use Cases for This Formula
Production examples for the 1Cr13Al4 Resistance Alloy / FeCl₃+HCl recipe span mobile-phone earpiece mesh, cold-press juicer filtration mesh, and stainless filtration mesh for vacuum cleaners. In every case, the etch factor and undercut figures on this page are the dominant tolerance drivers — bath maintenance discipline matters more than equipment headline rating.
Adjacent applications usually transfer onto this same formula with no chemistry change, sometimes only a conveyor speed tweak. Drop a drawing and a target volume and we will return a process card built off the parameters on this page.
More Cobalt Alloys Formulas
Other formulas in the same material family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- ASTM E407: Standard Practice for Microetching Metals and Alloys
- ASTM B912: Standard Specification for Passivation of Stainless Steels
- Photo Chemical Machining Institute — process capability guidelines
- NIST Engineering Statistics Handbook — process tolerance and capability
Standards are referenced for context. Always confirm parameters against the current published edition and your own process validation.
Need a Quote for This Process?
WET Etched runs production wet chemical etching lines using the FeCl₃+HCl chemistry. Send us your part drawing and quantity for a full process quote.
