frätsa

Frätsa is a Swedish verb meaning to erode or dissolve a surface by chemical action, typically to etch. The term is used mainly in chemistry, metallurgy, and microfabrication to describe the selective removal of material through chemical reagents such as acids, bases, or oxidizing agents. The result is a surface with a modified texture or a defined pattern.

In practice, frätsa can involve immersing a part in a reagent, circulating a solution, or exposing areas through a mask so that only designed regions are dissolved. This distinguishes frätsa from mechanical removal methods, such as fräsa, which relies on cutting tools to physically remove material.

Applications span several fields. In electronics and materials science, chemical etching defines circuit features or surface textures on metals and polymers. In metalworking and art, frätning is used to create decorative finishes, reveal underlying layers, or to prepare surfaces for subsequent treatments.

Etymology and related terms: the verb derives from fräta, meaning to gnaw away, reflecting the action of chemical dissolution. While closely related to other surface-processing terms, frätsa specifically emphasizes chemical erosion rather than mechanical carving.