PCB etchant safety - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Mephitus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2015, 02:30:22 pm
content: I have a 1&1/2 year old at home and was hoping to start doing some PCB etching soon. While I do have some secure storage for chemicals, I was wondering if there was any difference in the safety of ferric chloride vs others such as cupric chloride or persulfate? I just would like to keep the potentially hazardous materials at home as reasonably small as possible. Or if there are some additional safeguards recommended to use to help keep down exposure risks. I may be overthinking it and worrying, but would rather be too safe than not safe enough.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 26, 2015, 03:12:06 pm
content: You can compare hazardous chemicals with WHMIS.http://www.csst.qc.ca/en/prevention/reptox/Pages/list-whmis-2015-e-f-g.aspx

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 26, 2015, 04:11:54 pm
content: Here is the MSDS for the ferric chloride--http://msds.orica.com/pdf/shess-en-cds-010-000033756801.pdfcupric chloride--http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9923592

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2015, 04:28:51 pm
content: In terms of relative harm, ferric chloride is probably no worse than common household cleaning chemicals like lavatory cleaner or bleach. All need to be kept out of reach of small children.The main hazard with ferric chloride is the damage it will do to surfaces if spilled. It will create stains that are very difficult to remove and it will corrode anything made of metal and turn it into rust in short order. At least with humans if you stain your fingers the stains will disappear eventually of their own accord...

author: Mephitus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2015, 09:04:21 pm
content: Thanks for the advice. I will just keep it locked up with the rest of the cleaning chemicals then.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2015, 10:00:58 pm
content: Make sure its in a properly labelled appropriate container or bottle. i.e. *DON'T* reuse any drink bottle for mixed etchant. A properly washed out bleach bottle would be fine - it will be HDPE plastic with a child-resistant cap. (There is no such thing as child-proof.)Also, I'd want the cupboard in question to have a lock that engages every time the door is closed, without needing a key to lock it.

author: Cliff Matthews
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 27, 2015, 11:34:06 am
content: Find it on the bottom (near center mold injection point).

author: Evil Lurker
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2015, 04:43:34 pm
content: As others have stated ferric chloride leaves very nasty stains and likes to eat various metals. Hydrochloric acid/hydrogen peroxide gives off some very irritating fumes and said fumes will cause metal surfaces to rust such as those around light fixtures and what not. Other than that they are pretty much tame, as long as they are not ingested or come into contact with skin (which as long as they are quickly washed off/neutralized little or no injury occurs).My advice is to simply treat them like any other chemical and store them out of reach of children. Also, if you can, do your etching outdoors. All things considered if you have an adult female in the house she is more dangerous than the chemicals if they are spilled on anything.