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C26000 alloy - Brass

Material Name: C26000 alloy - Brass
Recipe No.: 12059
Primary Chemical Element in Material: Cu
Sample Type: Bulk
Uses: General microstructure
Etchant Name: No data
Type (Macro/Micro): Micro
Etching Method: Chemical
Etchant (Electrolyte) Composition: 25 g FeCl3, 20 ml HCl, 100 ml H2O
Procedure (Condition): Etch for 5 to 10 seconds by immersing the specimen, face up, in a solution. Remove the specimen from the etchant as soon as its finish is dulled and without wasting any time rinse off the etchant by swirling the specimen in a beaker of clean water. Finally, rinse the specimen with alcohol to displace the water then gently air dry it. If the specimen was under-etched simply repeat the etching procedure, allowing the finish to be dulled a bit more. Be careful to not over-etch the specimen. If this happens the final stages of polishing will have to be repeated before the specimen can be etched again.
Note: The objective is to reveal the fine details of the specimen’s microstructure by chemically removing material associated with selected features, staining them and even anodizing the surface of the specimen. Etching might utilize only a chemical etchant or a combination of chemical etchant and an electric potential, ultrasonic agitation, magnetic fields, etc.
Reference: Mike Meier, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, September 13, 2004, pp. 1-2.