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Caustic etchant - Al and Al alloys - General macrostructure

Material Name: Al and Al alloys
Recipe No.: 9502
Primary Chemical Element in Material: Al
Sample Type: Bulk
Uses: General macrostructure
Etchant Name: Caustic etchant
Type (Macro/Micro): Macro
Etching Method: Chemical
Etchant (Electrolyte) Composition: Solution a: 50-200 g NaOH, 1000 ml H2O. Solution b: 1 part HNO3, 1 part H2O.
Procedure (Condition): Dip in solution a for 3-15 min at room temperature. Rinse in water and immerse briefly in solution b. Wash and dry. For larger parts, swab surface with 400 g NaOH per liter of water for 30-60 min. Any insoluble residue can be removed with solution b.
Note: Caustic etch to reveal early damage by fatique cracking. Boone.
Reference: Vander Voort, Metallography Principles and Practice, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1984, p. 511.