ETCHING AND MARKING FLUIDS

Explaining the role of fluids in electrolytic marking & etching

Electrolyte Solutions to Assist in Creating the Image

There are two types of fluids used for marking and etching: an electrolyte solution and a neutralizer.

The electrolyte fluid usually is a water-based solution. It contains soluble substances that when dissolved give positive and negative ions, called cations and anions respectively. These substances include acids, base and salts. The amount of electrolytes in the solution determines its strength and ability to conduct electricity.

Neutralizer

The mark or etching may look all right after cleaning. Unfortunately, cleaning alone will not always remove the residue left from creating the image. This residue contains the acids, base and salts from the electrolyte solution. The residue is not harmful the person applying it, but increases the possibility of corrosion if left on the metal. Removing the residue is easy when using a neutralizing fluid.

The neutralizing fluid does as the name implies. It neutralizes the harmful acids and salts left behind after applying the mark or etching. Neutralizing fluid restores the pH balance on the metal surface, removing contaminants that could affect both the new image and the metal.

Electrochemical marking and etching is an excellent method to mark, track and identify parts. It offers a combination of low-cost, high resolution and permanent results on conductive metals of varying thickness. Using the correct electrolyte and neutralizing fluids for the application make the process of marking or etching metal fast and easy.

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