MATERIALS • PROCESSES • FINISHES


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medical biosensors, and fuel injection systems (burr and stress-free meaning springs function for longer) and bipolar plates for liquid-to-liquid or liquid-to-gas heat exchanger (complex channels etched into plates which remain perfectly flat).


How do you etch copper and copper alloys? As a relatively soft metal that exhibits high thermal and electrical conductivity, copper etches quickly in standard etch chemistries, unlike contact machining processes which can stretch copper out of shape and alter its properties.


Copper and its alloys are highly durable, ductile, and malleable, meaning it is well suited to forming and plating post-etching. Precision Micro produces thousands of 3D electrical contacts, pins, terminals, EMI gaskets, shielding, lead frames and connectors each month for automotive, electronics, aerospace and medical applications.


How do you etch nickel and nickel alloys? Nickels high resistance to heat and corrosion make it a popular choice when developing a variety of parts and


Virtually any metal can be chemically etched


components, it being commonly used as a protective outer coating for softer metals. Very few things are made out of pure nickel as it is used primarily as a stabiliser. However, although Precision Micro can apply its photo etching to an array of nickel-coated metals, it is also – unusually – able to process pure nickel


and nickel alloys. One such application saw the company recently apply its experience to the processing of Inconel, a high temperature nickel-based superalloy which as well as superior heat resistance also exhibits excellent resistance to corrosion, pressure and oxidation.


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