Controlled dissolution of quartz.

摘要

Process for controlled dissolving of quartz and its application to the chemical machining of the thickness or of the shape of quartz laminae intended to form resonators. The dissolving solvents employed until now (hydrofluoric acid and ammonium bifluoride) are not satisfactory because they deteriorate the surface quality of the laminae. According to the invention it has been found that it is particularly advantageous to employ baths in which the main solvent is an alkali metal (lithium, potassium or sodium) fluoride or hydroxide or an ammonium hydroxide or a mixture of these compounds.