I understand how 2 dissimilar metals will create electrolysis
between them and cause copper plating to occur (such as introducing
steel into a used, bath of pickle), but Ferric Chloride is a
chemical that is MEANT to DISSOLVE copper. How could the copper
plating exist in Ferric Chloride?
One way of looking at ferric chloride is simply hydrochloric acid
that has a large amount of iron dissolved in it. When etching the
copper, the copper replaces the iron in solution and it is no
different than your pickle once is heavily laden with copper. Same
reaction iron+copper+silver+acid = copper plated silver
James Binnion @James_Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
They told me that what they have in the system is all they have.
If you want to make Ferric Chloride, get a plastic bucket, some
muratic acide and some plain nails (no coating of any kind) put the
nailes in until they disolve. Use a small handful in the bucket.
Once those dissolve, then add another handful. Keep doing this until
the nails don’t dissolve, then you have ferric chloride. Decant the
bucket into glass jars with acide resistant caps.
There are probably a couple of reactions happening. The simple one
is that the Silver and Iron ions just change places
3Ag + Fe(NO_3 )_3 = 3AgNO_3 + Fe
Ian, there is also a poisonous gas that’s liberated, one that can
potentially knock you over if the FeNO3 is above a certain
temperature. (Speaking from experience here.) It’s the same gas
that’s liberated when nitric acid etches silver. I don’t know the
exact name of the gas (hydrogen somethingorother, I assume), or how
this factors into an equation, but your equation above needs to
account for it. It’s a real safety issue, especially if one is
wanting to etch silver in nitric acid in an unventilated area.
Does anyone know what the exact equation should be? I’m curious too.
I had it then lost it on the web. The one place I found then lost had
negative and positive spray. What kinds work best. I have seen
aerosol and regular pump spray?Can someone help with sources for this
stuff. For my designs. I wish to try the light sensitive stuff. Any
help would be great. I thought I read on here that prp and positive
20 had been discontinued is this true. This would be instead of pnp
blue.