Characterization of a black oxide process tank

Abstract

The Martin Marietta Ocala plant has processed up to two hundred and ten thousand square feet of copper plated wiring boards annually. This figure has recently decreased due to a reduction in demand. The boards require several steps of processing to overlay the designed circuits for their unique application. Part of this processing requires chemical etching and stripping. This process is repeated several times, with one process step utilizing a commercial solution known as black oxide. The black oxide solution prepares the printed wiring board surface to allow maximum adhesion of the copper to the exposed circuit pattern on the board. Repeated observations indicated that the black oxide solution would be effective for approximately twenty to thirty thousand square feet of printed wiring board before requiring disposal. Even though manufacturer suggested control tests indicated the black oxide solution was within specifications, the printed wiring boards would "smut" and not pass the quality assurance tests required for further processing. The disposal of the black oxide solution amounted to over twenty seven hundred gallons of hazardous

waste annually. A study to identify which contaminants were contributing to the deactivation of the black oxide solution was then initiated. The goal was to determine which analytical techniques could best characterize the black oxide solution. A series of samples were collected from seven different black oxide process tanks. Each set consisted of samples collected throughout the life cycle of the black oxide solution. The first five sample sets were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICAP) for metals, visible spectroscopy for specific anions, and standard titration for acidity and alkalinity. The pH of each sample in the set was also monitored. The samples collected from black oxide process tanks five, six, and seven were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy for organics. A review of analytical results concluded that analysis by infrared spectroscopy was the best analytical procedure to determine when the .black oxide solution was no longer effective.

Notes

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Graduation Date

1993

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Madsen, Brooks C.

Degree

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Chemistry

Format

PDF

Pages

38 p.

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

Identifier

DP0028677

Subjects

Arts and Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic; Dissertations, Academic -- Arts and Sciences

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