Copper Polishing Solution Using Organic Acids and Ultrasonic Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing polishing solutions for copper and its alloys using strong inorganic acids and toxic compounds pose environmental and health hazards while being difficult to control and emit toxic gases.

Innovation Solution

A polishing solution comprising citric acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, and water, with ultrasonic treatment, effectively removes contaminants from copper and its alloys without harmful compounds, enhancing polishing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If strong inorganic acids (sulfuric acid, nitric acid) are used for polishing copper and its alloys, then polishing rate is improved, but harmful factors (toxic emissions, corrosiveness, environmental damage) increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing rateVSAvoidtoxic emissions and corrosiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the chemical composition parameters of the polishing solution by replacing strong inorganic acids with organic acids (oxalic acid at 10-30% w/w, citric acid at 5-20% w/w) and adding hydrogen peroxide (1-5% w/w) as an oxidizing agent. This parameter substitution maintains effective polishing action while eliminating toxic emissions and reducing corrosiveness to environmentally safe levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of strong acids into a beneficial process by using hydrogen peroxide as a controlled oxidizing agent that works synergistically with organic acids. This combination provides effective copper oxide removal and polishing action without the harmful emissions and corrosiveness associated with traditional inorganic acid-based solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If traditional polishing solutions with strong acids are used, then polishing efficiency is improved, but process controllability deteriorates due to strong corrosive effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing efficiencyVSAvoidprocess controllability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters from strong inorganic acids to a milder system of organic acids combined with hydrogen peroxide. This parameter modification maintains high polishing efficiency through the synergistic action of oxalic acid, citric acid, and hydrogen peroxide, while significantly improving process controllability by reducing the aggressive corrosive effects that make traditional solutions difficult to manage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If toxic metal salts (cadmium chloride) are added to polishing solutions, then polishing quality is improved, but harmful factors increase due to heavy metal content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolishing qualityVSAvoidheavy metal content
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes toxic heavy metal salts (specifically cadmium chloride) from the polishing solution composition. Instead, it uses a combination of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide that achieves effective polishing quality without introducing harmful heavy metals, thereby eliminating the associated environmental and health hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the harmful function of cadmium chloride with a beneficial combination of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide. This substitution maintains the necessary polishing quality and surface finish while converting the harmful heavy metal-based chemistry into an environmentally friendly organic chemistry system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves high polishing efficiency with minimal environmental and health impact by using eco-friendly components and ultrasonic treatment, effectively removing impurities in 3 minutes.

Implementation Method 1

hydrogen peroxide in an amount of 0.5-2 % by weight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

ultrasonicating the solution using an ultrasonic generator power of 300 W per 10 L of the solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 3

heating the solution to temperature of 50-70°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4424794B1A solution for polishing of copper and its alloys and a method for polishing
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 ACAD GORNICZO HUTNICZA IM STANISLAWA STASZICA
  • EP4424794B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a solution for polishing of copper and its alloys, containing citric acid in an amount of 10-15 % by weight, acetic acid in an amount of 0.1-1 % by weight, hydrogen peroxide in an amount of 0.5-2 % by weight, ethanol in an amount of 35-55 % by weight and water. The invention also relates to a method for polishing copper and its alloys.