I am using Weck's Reagent (4% KMnO4, 1% NaOH in distilled water) to etch 6061. But at higher magnification, the grains are not showing at all. The chemicals are up-to-date and are not expired. There is a base material (only 6061); as well as a specimen welded to magnesium. This reagent has shown good results in the past. However, currently, no grains are visible at a higher magnification.
Any suggestions on what could be the problem or an idea to rectify this would be appreciated.
Dear Eisha Khalid ;
you can use the following etchant electrolyte composition;
60 ml ethanol
35 ml distilled water
20 ml glycerine
10 ml lactic acid
5 ml H3PhO4
2 g Citric acid
the etching method is detailed in the following reference;
http://www.steeldata.info/etch/demo/data/demo.html
Dear Dr. Eisha Khalid ,
I suggest you to have a lokk at the Pace Tachnologies - Etchant Database, available at:
https://database.metallographic.com/pace-etchant.php
Good luck and my best regards, Pierluigi Traverso.
Flick etchant: 80 ml of water, 10 ml of HF and 15 ml of HCl. 10 - 20 sec. etching;
Hi everyone, Thank you for the suggestions. Can you please add if these etchants have a reaction with the Magnesium side of the joint? I am welding aluminum to magnesium and therefore require an etchant that does not react with the other alloy. So, I have a separate etchant for Mg which has no effect on Al side and require an etchant for Al which does not affect the Mg side.
Somehow I am unable to reply to the comments, therefore adding my comment as an answer.
Dear Eisha Khalid,
Electrolytic polishing is a good solution for Aluminum 6061. I enclose a brochure with modes for developing the company Struers.
Automatic, microprocessor controlled electrolytic polishing and etching of metallographic specimens
A dilute solution of HCl and HF, such as Flick's agent, should work.
Hi Everyone, thanks for your answers! I tried a few, but what worked for me is below:
40 seconds: 2g NaOH in 10 ml water
20 seconds: 0.2g NaOH, 0.4g KMnO4, 10 ml water
The above doesn't corrode Mg-side so that helped.
Hope it helps anyone etching Al.
https://doi.org/10.1177%2F09544054221092935
Follow this article, this might be help you
use Tucker's reagent etchant for aluminum 6082 : 25 ml of water, 15 ml HF, 25 ml HCl, 15 ml HNO3.
immerse or swabs of your specimen for 5 second.
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