Letter 18014

Is perchloric acid widely used? [California] 

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Are perchloric acid or perchlorate solutions still used in the metal finishing industry in the United States or elsewhere? If so, how widespread is their use?

Wayne Praskins
- San Francisco, CA

No. See letter 9408.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

Hi Wayne !

You've touched on a sore point ... personally, I've never, EVER had a Perchloric problem (designer of Assay ventilation systems across the world) but its a No-No in the USA ... but I can't speak for other countries.

And, dear reader, if you are from another country reading this. PLEASE answer Wayne's question. Wayne, go and have a gander in the archives at # 9408 (Perchloric etching) ... there you will find the whole story. Perchloric is a super oxidizer and the cognescenti in the Assay labs know how to and how NOT to handle it ... evidently those platers were not educated in its disadvantages which is why your plating industry is scared witless of using it.

Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada

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