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The influence of a potassium carbonate (K 2 CO 3 ) additive on the base catalyzed hydrolysis of polyimide (Kapton†) film in aqueous potassium hydroxide (KOH) was determined experimentally. The etch rate is significantly greater for KOH/K 2 CO 3 solutions compared with solutions composed of KOH only. The experimental order of the reaction with respect to the KOH concentration was found to be 1.5. In addition, the rate was found to increase linearly with respect to the K 2 CO 3 concentration at a fixed KOH concentration. Visual observations of a thinner gel layer on the surface of the film, combined with increased solubility of the etch by‐products in KOH/K 2 CO 3 relative to KOH, help to explain the difference in etch rate. It appears the ability of K 2 CO 3 to enhance the solubility of the hydrolyzed polyimide (polyamic acid salt) results in faster etch rates.
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Pawlowski et al. (1991) studied this question.
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