The chemical etching process relies on the use of complex chemicals to render images and shapes onto metal surfaces. It works well on aluminum, stainless steel, brass, zinc, and mild steel.
The use of chemical etching on metal allows the designs created to be extremely intricate. Company logos, part numbers, and other identifying marks are etched flawlessly. It creates a far more precise etched rendition than the processes of stamping or laser cutting.
Another benefit of chemical etching is the fact that the process imparts no mechanical stresses on metal substrates. Other etching processes such as stamping, punching and die-cutting frequently cause significant shearing deformation. Even laser and water-jet cutting may leave ablative deformation. Chemical etching also allows soft magnetic materials to retain their permeability, unlike other processes which damage the material’s magnetic abilities.
The use of chemical etching can also be successfully utilized on extremely thin metals. Thinner material actually enhances the dimensional accuracy of the etching. The thin material can be milled with no concerns about distortion. Once chemically etched, a surface can be further highlighted and detailed by adding paint to create visual contrast and add visual depth.
Products, such as name tags, that have been chemically etched will generally last a lifetime without fading or distortion. If you would like to learn more about chemical etching or our many other printing and engraving services, please contact us. At Detroit Name Plate Etching, we take your needs seriously and we are always ready to answer any questions that you might have.