Element's chemical etching (or chemical milling etching) can help reveal hidden abnormalities or defects such as cracks, laps or corrosion in a material or component.
What is chemical etching?
Chemical etching is a form of processing that uses acids, bases or other chemicals to remove layers of a material or clean unwanted substances from a part or test sample.
Chemical etching services
Element provides chemical etching as a standalone method and as preparation for a range of test types and inspection techniques.
Our trusted experts have experience with different types of advanced chemical etching, including aluminum cleaning etch, anodic etch, blue etch anodize (BEA), nital etch and pre-penetrants etch. We also offer the chemical etching of nickel parts (nickel etch) and materials to perform material segregation and defect inspection.
Advantages of chemical etching
Identifying material imperfections before submitting the sample to non-destructive testing (NDT), mechanical testing, metallography, microscopy or other analytical techniques can help save time and cost for manufacturers.
The Element advantage
Our experienced experts provide etching and other chemical processing services for a number of industries, including aerospace, defense, transportation and power generation.
For more information about our chemical etching services or to request a quote, contact us today.
Our Chemical Etching Services
Element offers a variety of chemical etching services, including anodic etch, blue etch anodize and nital etch.
Aluminium Etching and Cleaning
Aluminum etching is a nondestructive technique used to clean or inspect the material for grain size or surface defects. It is also considered a preparation method for pre-penetrant etch.
Anodic Etching Inspection
Anodic etch is only applicable to stainless steel and nickel-based materials. This nickel alloy inspection method is used to detect surface defects, grain structure, grain size and more.
Blue Etch Anodize (BEA) Inspection
Blue Etch Anodize is a nondestructive test that can reveal minimal surface defects in titanium materials. Titanium is commonly used in critical rotating components for both aerospace and power generation industries.
Macro Etching
Macro etch (also known as chem etch, chemical etch and chemical dissolution) is useful for both cleaning and inspection. This method is applicable for nickel and titanium based alloys.
Nital Etch Inspection Services
Nital etch, or surface temper etch is a non-destructive (NDT) technique that helps determine if a part has been overheated during testing.
Pre-penetrant Etch
Pre-penetrant etch is a surface cleaning method used to remove smear material from sanding, grinding, buffing, milling, etc. This etching method can be performed as preparation for Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (FPI).
Related Services
Metallurgical Testing
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Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)
Element's NDT services comply with a wide variety of industry standards, government contracts, military specifications and unique customer requirements.
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