The Effects of Metallurgical Variables on the Etching Characteristics of Photoengraving Copper.

A report is presented on experiments in which the effects of silver content oxygen content and distribution hardness, thermomechanical treatment, surface finish and grain size of copper on its powderless etching characteristics were investigated. Initial studies showed that silver content and thermomechanical history were the only important variables, the effects of these two factors and of surface condition were studied further. Results are presented and discussed.