New and safe way to etch titanium

The Telford-based photo-chemical etching specialist Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) (www.ace-uk.net) has developed a new and safe chemistry that it says takes the etching of titanium to new levels of quality and precision.

Titanium, which is renowned for its strength and lightness, is difficult to etch because it rapidly forms a protective oxidised coating when exposed to air (this coating is exceptionally hard to dissolve). Traditionally, hydrofluoric acid has been used as the preferred etchant because of its ability to remove this oxide layer, but it is a highly toxic material — one to be avoided, if possible.

Working closely with Wolverhampton University, ACE has developed a new process that is both safe and offers good results. Called TiME (Titanium Molecular Etching), the process is said to be faster and more controllable than the traditional process while offering outstanding precision with well-defined features and crisp edges. The process is expected to be of great benefit to the aviation industry (some 77 tonnes of titanium are used in every Airbus A380 alone).