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Fe, low-alloy steels

Material Name: Fe, low-alloy steels
Recipe No.: 9561
Primary Chemical Element in Material: Fe
Sample Type: Bulk
Uses: General macrostructure
Etchant Name: None
Type (Macro/Micro): Macro
Etching Method: Chemical
Etchant (Electrolyte) Composition: Saturated aq. picric acid solution plus small amount of wetting agent (Such as Teepol or sodium tridecylbenzene sulfonate).
Procedure (Condition): Use polished surface. Etch up to 25 min at room temperature. A few percent HCl can be added to etch higher-alloy steels.
Note: Good for welds.
Reference: Vander Voort, Metallography Principles and Practice, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1984, p. 519.