Preparing materials and products for testing or machining sometimes requires etching or chemical milling. Etching is a form of chemical processing that uses acids, bases, or other chemicals to clean a part or test sample of unwanted substances or to remove the top layers of a material. For testing purposes, etching can help reveal hidden flaws or defects in a part or component before submitting the sample to traditional destructive or nondestructive examination, metallography, microscopy, or other analytical technique.
Wet and photochemical etching
The two main types of etching are wet and photochemical, the main difference being using a maskant such as paint, rubber, or vinyl versus using a photoresist (a light-sensitive material), respectively.
Common etchants used in Element etching processes are Nital (nitric acid and alcohol), sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acids, ferric chloride, cupric chloride, ammonium persulfate, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrofluoric acid.
Element experts provide etching to aerospace, defense, automotive, and other clients, in addition to other chemical processing services. Contact us today for more information.