Metallographic Etchants

Aluminimum alloys High carbon Steel

Brasses and Bronzes Stainless Steel

Cast Iron Tin Alloys

Copper Alloys Zinc Alloys

Low carbon Steel Ceramics

CAUTION: Safety is very important when etching. Be sure to wear the appropriate protective clothing and observe all

The most commonly used etchants Etchant Composition Conc. Conditions Comments

Kalling's No. 1

Distilled waterCuCl2Hydrochloric acidEthanol

33 ml1.5 grams33 ml33 ml

Immersionetching at 20DegreesCelcius

For etchingmartensitic stainlesssteels. Martensite willbe dark and the ferritewill be colored.

Kalling's No. 2

CuCl2Hydrochloric acidEthanol

5 grams100 ml100 ml

Immersionetching at 20DegreesCelcius

For etching duplexstainless steels andNi-Cu alloys andsuperalloys.

Kellers Etch

Distilled waterNitric acidHydrochloric acidHydrofluoric acid

190 ml5 ml3 ml2 ml

10-30secondimmersion.Use onlyFreshetchant

Excellent foraluminum and alloys immersion for 10-20seconds ; titaniumalloys immersion for10-20 seconds.

Etchant Composition Conc. Conditions Comments

Kroll’s Reagent

Distilled waterNitric acidHydrofluoric acid

92 ml6 ml2 ml

15 secs

Excellent for titaniumand alloys. Swabspecimen up to 20seconds.

NitalEthanol

Nitric acid

100 ml1-10 ml

Seconds to minutes

Most common etchantfor Fe, carbon andalloys steels and castiron - Immerse sampleup from seconds tominutes; Mn-Fe, MnNi,Mn-Cu, Mn-Co alloys–immersion up to a fewminutes.

Marble's Reagent

CuSO4Hydrochloric acidWater

10 grams50 ml50 ml

Immerse or swab for 5-60 secs.

For etching Ni, Ni-Cuand Ni-Fe alloys andsuperalloys. Add afew drops of H2SO4to increase activity.

EtchantCompos

itionConc. Conditions Comments

Murakami's

K3Fe(N)6KOHWater

10 grams10 grams100 ml

Pre-mix KOHand waterBeforeAddingK3Fe(CN)6

Cr and alloys (use fresh andimmerse); iron and steelsreveals carbides; Mo andalloys uses fresh andimmerse; Ni-Cu alloys foralpha phases use at 75Celcius; W and alloys usefresh and immerse; WC-Coand complex sinteredcarbides.

Picral

EthanoPicricacid

100 ml2-4 grams

Seconds to minutesDo not let etchant crystallize or dry –explosive

Recommended formicrostructures containingferrite and carbide.

Vilella’s Reagent

GlycerolHNO3

HCl

45 ml15 ml30 ml

Seconds to minutes

Good for ferrite-carbidestructures (temperedmartensite) in iron and steel

Guide to Acid Concentrations

Acid / BaseSpecific

gravity Concentration

Nitric (HNO3) 1.4 68-70%

Hydrofluoric (HF) - 40%

Hydrochloric (HCl) - 37-38%

Ammonium Hydroxide (NH4OH) - 35%

Specimen and Mount Holders• Specially Designed

Specimen Holders For SEM: • The specimen holders are

designed to improve productivity and allow one to view more than one sample at a time. This saves pump down time, keep chamber cleaner and get more work done. All mounts are machined from solid aluminum and come with spring clips/or setscrews to hold specimens securely. All mounts are made to fit onto the stage and are designed to fit through all standard specimen exchange ports, and have a center-threaded port to accept the Adapter Pins that fits SEM instrument. Three different types of pin adapters, which are threaded and ready to screw on to the base of the holders are available.

Adapter A: Overall measurement: 28mm long x 3.1mm diameter (step-up portion is 6.25mm L x 4.8mm diameter),Adapter B: Overall measurement: 28mm long x 6mm diameter,Adapter C: Overall measurement: 34.5mm long x 16mm diameterAll adapters have a threaded portion 5mm in length.

Universal SEM Sample HolderTo hold almost any sample from 3mm to 29mm in diameter plus various odd shaped samples, with the dimensions not greater than 29mm. The samples are easily inserted or removed from the holder. The holder is made from aluminum and is with four removable sample arms so that it can hold very small samples as well, and it provides good electrical contact to the stage. The standard base measures: 48mm x 42mm x 12mm Thick..

Vertical Mount for Thin Samples; Flat Base This is designed to hold thin samples vertically in the SEM or any microscope. It is 25mm in diameter and 10mm thick. Each of the two loader jaws can hold up to 3mm thick samples. The spring loader keeps thin samples vertical so that cross sections can be studied. This holder is very useful for cross sections of silicon wafers or multilayer capicators. .

Multi Pin Holder The Multi Pin Holder is designed to save time. It accommodates 3 or 5 of ½" dia.(12.5mm) surface, 1/8" dia. (3.1 75910 Specimen Holders For SEM 10-14 mm) pin.

ISI DS 130 and 150 First Stage Sample MountsIt is 10mm in diameter, 5mm high, copper sample holder to fit in the first stage of the ISI DS 130 and 150 SEM's. The inner cylinder is height adjustable so that one can adjust the sample to the correct working distance.

SEM Sample Holder SetFor convenience a SEM Sample Holder Set to fill all needs is available. The set consists of one universal holder, one vertical mount holder for thin samples, one 3-pin and one 5-pin configuration holder with a key for the set screw all in a finely finished wood box.

Pin Mount Stub AdaptersMade from aluminum, used to

adapt 1/8" (3.1mm) pin diameter SEM stubs.

Available in 10, 15, 16mm diameter as well.

Cross Sectional HolderMade from non-magnetic stainless steel with 3.1mm (1/8") diameter pin and adjustable angle turn-screw. Just insert specimens edge-on and observe the cross section directly

Four-Pin Stub HolderIt accommodates four pin type, up to 12.5 (1/2") surface specimen stubs, with 1/8" (3.1mm) diameter pin.

Five 10mm Stub HolderAccommodates five 10mm

diameter specimen stubs, with 1/8" (3.1mm) diameter pin

Thin Sample HolderIdeal for examination cross section of thin samples, such as wafers, multi-layer of capacitors, plastics, metals, etc. ½" diameter (12.7mm), 1/8" (3.1mm)dia. pin (3.1mm) with split openings up to ¼" (6.4mm). Available with either 8mm (5/16") pin height or 15mm (9/16") pin height. For ISI, JEOL, TOPCON: Double set screw for a secure holding of the specimen during observation. 15mm(9/16")(dia). x 10mm(3/8")(H), 6.4mm(1/4") split.

• METALLURGICAL LABORATORY TESTING

Metallurgical labs stocked with state-of-the-art of equipment that allows to help in materials selection, characterization, component and process design, qualification, failure analysis, and many other services.

• Specimen Preparation • Automatic grinding and polishing equipment • Abrasive cut-off wheels • Epoxy and cold mount • Large section specimen (up to 9 in.) metallographic preparation • Acid and electrolytic polishing/etching techniques • Specialized sectioning capability • Etching techniques for most common materials • Removal of rust and scale prior to failure analysis • Microstructural Analysis • Optical microscopes: magnification up to 2000x with oil immersion • Scanning Electron Microscope • Cambridge Stereoscan 360 • Windowless EDS capability for microstructural chemical analysis

• Image Analysis • Micro- and macro-digital photographic capability • Quantitative image analysis for:

– Area fraction – Feature measurement – Modularity – Grain size – Size distribution – Inclusion rating – Crack length

• Software-based weld profile measurement Conventional & digital macrophotograph capability

• Materials Testing • Hardness testing (Rockwell A, B, C) • Microhardness testing (Vickers, Knoop) • Magne-gage for ferrite measurement

• Weldability Testing • Gleeble 1000 Thermal/Mechanical Simulator • Universal Varestraint • Oberlikon-Yanaco Hydrogen Analyzer with high-temperature

measurement capability • Heat Treatment • 3-cubic ft. convection furnace • 12-cubic ft. convection furnace • 9-cubic ft. oven • Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) • Ultrasonic immersion testing • Ultrasonic contact testing • Eddy current testing • Meandering Winding Magnetometer (MWM) • Surface cleanliness monitor (Optical Stimulated Electron Emission

[OSEE]) • Magnetic particle testing • Penetrant testing • Baroscope and visual inspection • Radiography

Thermography• STANDARD TESTING SERVICES

• Tensile Bend Fatigue • Charpy impact Fracture toughness (CTOD, J&K) • Heat treatment services (stress relief, normalizing ageing) • Weld cracking sensitivity tests (WIC, Y-groove, CTS, GBOP) • Diffusible hydrogen measurement (Mercury and gas chromatography) • Gleeble Thermo-mechanical simulator

– Weld simulation CCT curves – Process simulation – Thermal/mechanical simulation – Weldability (Varestraint, Sigamajig) – Microstructural characterization

• Optical Hardness Feature quantification • Weld procedure qualification • Residual stress measurements (blind-whole method)

– Digital image analysis SEM with – EDS capability – Experimental stress analysis (strain gauging services) – High temperature testing up to 1200°C – Expert failure analysis – Welding services (PQR, test plate fabrication, etc.)