Hey folks! I've been work in a foundry meantime now, and we're constantly on the lookout for better ways to delineate stainless steel. anyone have any recommendations for effective etchants?
I've listened to of a few different options out there. What kind of stainless steel are you working with? The composition can prepare a big difference in what etchant will work ideal.
Yeah, that's an excellent level. Are you searching for something that's more general-purpose, or do you need some thing specific for a certain quality of stainless steel?
We mainly patronized 304 and 316 stainless steel, so I think we need something that's powerful for those grades. Any suggestions?
For 304 and 316 stainless steel, I've had excellent results with a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It's pretty commonly used for those grades and gives a good, wash engrave.
How about safety considerations when employing those acids? Are there any special precautions you need to take?
Yeah, safety is definitely crucial when work with acids. Make sure you're using them in a well-ventilated region and putting on convenient individual protective equipment like gloves and goggles.
Good to know! Are there any alternative etchants that are less hazardous to patronized, or is the nitric acid/hydrochloric acid mixture pretty considerably the normal for stainless steel?
There are definitely alternatives out there, but they may well not be as effective or versatile as the nitric/hydrochloric acid mixture. Any individuals use citric acid or ferric chloride, but they may not provide you the same level of depth in your delineate.
It sounds like there's a trade-off between effectiveness and safety. Get you tried any of the alternative etchants yourself,?