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34 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2025 Initially, I thought an April Fool's column would be fun this month. I could highlight some of the crazier ideas and misconceptions I've witnessed over the years from potential customers and we could all have a good laugh. For example, there was a first-time buyer of a ferric chloride etcher (with no regeneration system) who was astonished to learn that he had to put fresh etchant in the system occa- sionally to maintain production. Upon further reflection, I realized that a col- umn that makes fun of one's potential custom- ers might not be a particularly astute move. However, thinking about the misconception that the ferric chloride etcher would last for- The Chemical Connection Feature Column by Don Ball, CHEMCUT Common Misconceptions in Wet Processing ever made me realize there are many common misconceptions about etching and wet pro- cessing, which would make for a more worth- while column. One common misconception is that chang- ing to a different etch chemistry will change the overall etch uniformity of the system being used. Some etch parameters, such as etch rate or etch factor, may change, but the etch profile across the width of the panel will not. ose areas that etch a little more or a little less than others on the panel will still etch a little faster or slower in the same places and with the same proportions, no matter the etchant. For a vari- ety of reasons, the most common change is