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The GoldEX
KIT™ includes samples of all the components used in the wet gold
etching process and for the recovery of the spent gold. These components
include the gold-plated Ti:Al subtrates, AU1 Gold Etchant, UnionCleaner, and
GOLDOUT™. Sufficient quantities are supplied to etch and recover gold from
the substrates provided.
For over 25
years, Union Etchants has been committed to providing products that
minimize ecological harm. We believe that if decision makers within the
electronics industry have an easier way to learn about our products, they will
consider incorporating them into their manufacturing processes, especially the
manufacture of critical use products.
UEI
recently received a positive evaluation of the GoldEX KIT™ from the
TURI Surface Solutions Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts
in Lowell (www.turi.org). We invite you to review their
news release regarding our GoldEX
KIT™.
For more information about UEI
and UEI products, please tour our website, send us an
e-mail,
or call 781-
935-8878.
GoldEX KIT™ Usage
Directions
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What this kit
contains:
- One bottle of AU-1 *
Gold Etchant (235 grams)
- Three Gold-plated
1.12" x 2.25" metal coupons
- One bottle of
GoldOutTM (97 grams)
- One packet of
pre-treatment cleaning powder (contains Alconox®)
- One set of plastic
tweezers
* AU- 1 is a UN1759
corrosive powder and a UN1760 corrosive solution upon
dilution.
Follow all applicable federal, state and local
regulations when handling. |
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UEI's GoldEX KitT™
(
Click for larger
photo )
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What supplies you will
need:
- Gloves and
goggles
(please read accompanying material safety data
sheets for all three components)
- Two small (500mL) and one
large (1500mL) laboratory-grade beakers*
- Glass stirring
rod
- Deionized water and plastic
dispensing bottle
- Paper towels
Optional: flask, funnel and
filter paper (appropriate for collecting metal fines),
aloe vera-containing
product (to help remove any staining, in the event of spillage)
* Please ensure that the volume
of the large beaker is at least twice the capacity of
the solution before
adding any GoldOut™ (to accommodate product foaming).
PREPARING THE
COUPONS
Empty the entire contents of
the cleaning powder into the small beaker. Add warm (100-120°F) deionized
water until a volume of 250mL is reached, stirring with a clean glass rod until
the powder is dissolved. Using the plastic tweezers provided, individually
immerse and agitate each of the gold-plated coupons into the cleaner solution
for approx. 30 seconds. Remove each of the coupons with the tweezers and rinse
with deionized water from the plastic dispensing bottle over the second small
beaker, taking care not to handle the gold surface of the coupons. Allow the
coupons to air-dry on the paper towels, gold surface face-up (approx. drying
time 30 minutes). The cleaner is designed to remove only superficial soils that
may interfere with the test results, so the used cleaner solution may be
discharged directly to drain.
ETCHING THE
COUPONS*
In a well ventilated area,
empty the entire contents of the AU-1 Gold Etchant bottle into the large
beaker. Slowly add warm deionized water until a volume of 1000mL is reached,
stirring gently with a clean glass rod until all the material is dissolved. Dip
and immerse each of the coupons until the desired level of etch to the gold
surface is visually achieved (a ten-minute immersion is often enough to
demonstrate the technology). Remove the coupons from the etching
solution.
*Heating the solution further
(maximum 180° F) will increase the rate of etch.
EXTRACTING THE
GOLD*
Slowly add the GoldOut™
to the etching solution while stirring with a clean glass rod. You will notice
some effervescence, followed by a color change when the reaction is complete
(dark red to pale yellow in approx. 30 minutes). The precipitate containing the
gold will begin to settle-out in five to ten minutes, and can be removed later
from the solution by standard gravimetric filtration (optional). The clarified
Etchant/GoldOutTM solution should be disposed of in accordance with all
federal, state and local regulations for hazardous waste (pH of 6.5 - mildly
corrosive).
*Enough GoldOut™ has
been supplied to process 1000mL 'spent' AU-1 etch solution.
Note: the above patent-pending
chemicals, demonstrating iodine etching as an effective but less toxic
alternative to cyanide etching, are intended for use only as specified in this
kit. The manufacturer is not responsible for any other unauthorized use,
including the addition/mixing of other substitute reactants. For more
information, please contact Union Etchants International (UEI) at Tel.:
781-935-8878, Fax: 781-932-8284 or E-mail: unionetch1@rcn.com. |
