Chemical Etching Services

Chemical etching / chemical milling etching uses acids, bases, and specialized chemicals to remove material layers, revealing hidden defects and material characteristics. This process is essential for identifying potential failure points in critical components before they enter service. By detecting abnormalities early - especially through techniques like pre-penetrant etch for Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI) - manufacturers can save time and cost by minimizing rework and preventing in-service failures. At Element, our experienced technicians provide precise etching processes tailored to your specific material composition and inspection requirements, from aluminum cleaning and anodic etching to blue etch anodize for titanium, nickel etch for alloy inspection, and nital etch for surface temper checks.  

We offer chemical etching as both a standalone inspection method and as preparation for a range of additional testing techniques, including non-destructive testing, mechanical testing, metallography, and microscopy. By uncovering imperfections early, this saves time and cost. Our chemical etching services are customized to meet the unique requirements of aerospace, defense, transportation, and power generation industries. We understand the critical nature of components in these sectors and the specific defects that must be identified.