How to remove copper from carbon steel substrate? 1

• Jul 22, 2002

• #2

bilge

Materials

Mar 14, 2001

59

US

An interesting problem because it is generally recognized that copper is much more corrosion resistant than iron.

One possibility might be to use a nitric acid solution sufficiently strong to passivate the iron but attack the copper.

Other possibilities:
hydrocyanic acid (ugh!)
hot isopropyl acid
metallic mercury (probably your best bet).

 

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• Jul 23, 2002

1
• #3

rustbuster1

Materials

May 30, 2001

128

US

Copper is soluble in ammonia solutions and carbon steel is not. I would expect a 10- 15 % solution of ammonium hydroxide in water at about 70C to give reasonbly good copper removal efficiency. Let us know what you decide.

 

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• Aug 14, 2002

• #4

sciguyjim

Chemical

Jun 12, 2002

155

US

Ferric chloride is used to etch copper from circuit boards but I have no idea how it will affect the steel.

 

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• Aug 15, 2002

• #5

tblaser

Chemical

Jun 1, 2001

23

US

Ferric Chloride is nasty stuff. It will attack most metals including Cu and Fe at a large range of concentrations.

Tim

 

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• Aug 18, 2002

• #6

vj436

Petroleum

Aug 13, 2002

3

QA

(Vijay Cor Eng)

Etch blast the surface with fine garnet you can remove the copper as well as polish the surface.

 

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