Ferric chloride gone into liquid

[`FRANK.C]

I purchased this packet of Ferric chloride crystals 10+ years ago. It has sat at the back of a shelf ever sense.
I went to move it recently and found that it had turned to liquid. Somehow moisture got in through the plastic. The stains on the label are from the other packet that I bought at the same time and used.
I thought it interesting how moisture could get in but could not get out.

Frank

[ppppenguin]

FeCl3 is very hygroscopic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron(III)_chloride Some plastics are not as impermeable as you might imagine. If even the tiniest amount of water gets in, it will start to dissolve the FeCl3 and won't readily detach in order to get out.

[PerdioPal]

It will still work.

[Nick]

Being fair, it's now so cheap and quick to get boards made, e.g. from PCBWay, that i sold my bubble tank etc. and disposed of the chemicals.

[DrStrangelove]

I recall storing a bag of FeCl on a high shelf many years ago.

It was not a wise decision when the plastic carton disintegrated in the sun shining in through the window.

Messy stuff.

Reminded me of my late predecessor's etch tank experience: the processing room was above a lecture theatre.

One day one of the Esteemed Customers who was still awake remarked on the brown stain spreading over the ceiling above the lecturer.

6 litres of FeCl had leaked out of the etch tank due to a pinhole in the drain hose.

At least when it happened to me a) it was developer and b) by this time it had been relocated over the gents bog in a different building and c) it was during a vac.

Never did find out where that 5 litres of stuff went.

Naturally enough, because I actually enjoyed making pcbs the tank was condemned by Elf & SafeTea and one of the few minor joys disappeared.

Ho hum.

[BusyBee]

I have a plastic bottle of the liquid, which I examine from time to time. It's in the garage in a relatively safe place though so should not be too much of an issue. I sometimes wonder why I keep it but I know that the moment I get rid I will find a need

[`FRANK.C]

When I first found it there was a sizeable amount of liquid separate from the crystals. it was only after moving it that it all mixed.
Where it was located was not a place I would consider damp. It is not dehumidified but I have no problems with items going rusty when they have been left there for years.
It is not something that I have used in years because as Nick has said it is cheap to get PCB's made. But you never know so I will hold on to it.
Even though it is not leaking I will need to find a better container to put it in now that it is liquid. It is really horrible stuff if it spills.

Frank

[DrStrangelove]

In the realms of "Dumb Things I have Done" there's the purchase of a 2nd hand RS branded bubble tank from the local electronics junk emporium back in the day (25 or more years ago).

Get it home and think: I'll see if it works.

Carts tank into kitchen.

And my guardian angel being with me, I filled it with water rather than FeCl.

And it leaked due to a fractured gland at the base of the tank.

Thusly did I avoid colouring the kitchen floor orange or etching the kitchen sink.

Thank you angel of mercy.

Managed to mop up the water reasonably well, so got away with that one.

Still haven't found a replacement for the gland.

[ppppenguin]

When I was in my teens in the early 1970s I got fed up with using ferric chloride because it was slow and messy. I tried nitric acid which was readily available from a friendly chemistry lab tech at school. Worked like a dream except when I got it a bit too strong. Put the PCB in the tray and the cloud of brown acrid fumes was, shall we say, unpleasant.

[PerdioPal]

Nitric acid is great for converting PCB stuff into glass cloth. FeCl is also know as divorce fluid!