I want to electro-polish the austenitic stainless steel for the EBSD tests. I know the perchloric acid, but it is not permitted to be used in our lab. So I need to try other acid and electro-polishing the sample.
You don't need perchloric acid for SS electropolishing. Simple H3PO4 is ok. Look for proper solutions elsewhere and go ahead.
Dear Dr. Ling Hu,
safety is a very important factor regarding electropolishing process of stainless steel. The use of perchloric acid, gives a potential hazard of explosion at above 40 °C.
You can use a traditional solution for electropolishing, suitable for all austenitic stainless steels, containing 25 wt% sulfuric acid and 75 wt % phosphoric acid. No additional water is considered.
There are also other solutions, for example 250 mL H2O, 750 mL H2SO4 or 300 mL H2O, 700 mL H3PO4. You can find more detailed info in ASM Handbook, vol. 9.
Best regards, Pierluigi Traverso
Perchloric acid is used in dilute form. That gives you the way out. Mostly the impurity levels are defined.
After necessary dilution the etching agent can be safely imported into the lab., but you need to adjust your parameters for successful output.
I too had used Lithium Hydride for specific purposed which exploded, But then in 1983 or so the rules were not so stringent and so was our awareness. But being soldier myself, and conscious of environment, safety and quality I had designed into the safety measures into experimentation, and also simultaneously given due instructions to my team members (students), as their well being was always upmost upon my mind (I considered it as my own responsibility).
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