“Photoetching quality” steel refers to a type of steel that is specially processed to achieve a smooth, consistent surface, making it ideal for precision photochemical etching (also known as photo-etching or photochemical machining).
Photochemical etching uses light-sensitive coatings and chemical solutions to remove material and create intricate, high-precision patterns or components. The steel’s surface quality, cleanliness, and uniformity are critical to ensure the etching process produces accurate, detailed, and defect-free results. Photo etching quality steel is commonly used in industries like electronics, aerospace, and fine manufacturing.
What is 'Photoetching Quality' Material?
No- Standard Stainless Steel: Unsuitable for Photoetching
Defects (including – burrs, discolouration, inclusions, pits, blisters, chatter marks, crown, dish, camber, lap, ripple, wavy edges, coil set, twist)
| DEFECT | ISSUE | RESULT |
|---|---|---|
| Coil set, wavy metal or dents | Photoresist coating | Loss of registration and detail |
| Thickness (gauge) variation | Optimum etching time unknown | Over or under etching |
| Too large grain size | Loss of resolution in etching features | Loss of accurate product |
| Surface scratches | Photoresist coating | Etch into scratch producing cosmetic defects on product |
| Inclusions | Pits, pimples – etch at different rates | Loss of resolution in product |
Yes - Datum Stainless Steel: Photoetching Quality
| QUALITY | DATUM STEEL | BENEFIT |
|---|---|---|
| Flatness | ✓ | Datum has the tightest flatness tolerances in the market for edge wave and centre buckle |
| Uniform thickness | ✓ | Datum provide material to +/- 2% thickness – the tightest in the market |
| Grain size | ✓ | Datum Phd is produced with a 7-10 microns grain size |
| Uniform surface finish | ✓ | Each individual sheet from Datum production is visually inspected for surface defects. |
| Inclusions | ✓ | Datum materials are produced with a homogenous grain structure and extremely low impurities |