Relief Electro-Etching for Champleve Enamel - Part 5
- Details
- Parent Category: Technical Articles from Journal Back Copies
- Category: Technical Articles 2009
Raymond Jackson
For those interested in applying and extending the techniques described here to the etching of silver, I offer a few suggestions. My own experience to date is, however, limited to just one test and so what follows is very preliminary. Firstly, because silver is slightly more dense than copper, the raft used to float the silver anode should be some eleven times as thick as the silver.
As for a suitable electrolyte, the logical choice would appear to be silver nitrate (AgNO3). It is very soluble in water, (2220gm/litre), and only slightly affected by light. However, even if making up a 1:20 solution, it will cost over £70 for 500m1. A cheaper alternative is dilute nitric acid and this will eventually convert into silver nitrate as etching takes place. A 500ml solution of 1:20 nitric acid (HNO3) can be made by measuring out 25m1 of concentrated acid and pouring it gently into 475m1 of distilled water. Gas will be released at the cathode when etching, but the bubbles should not inhibit etching at the anode. The life of the solution will be determined by experience in its extended use.
Time to Etch