electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
(OP)
We are trying for Aerospace qualification for resisatnce welding and the testing that we have done so far has all been positive. The problem is we need to be able to do the section testing in-house, hourly per customer requirements. It would be insane to attempt to run production without having the in-house ability to perform the production testing.
Does anyone have leads to where I can find suitable equipment for the electrolytic etching for the production witness specimens?
Or have advice for me.
Does anyone have leads to where I can find suitable equipment for the electrolytic etching for the production witness specimens?
Or have advice for me.





RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
High Performance Alloys
http://www.hpalloy.com/
Nice folks. Incredible resource and very good supplier.
Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.
www.carbideprocessors.com
Good engineering starts with a Grainger Catalog.
RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
The cleaning process used for production parts MUST be used for Your production witness parts. SO, what ever process You have decided-on for Your production parts is what should be used 100% for Your test samples... and/or be prepared to destructive test production parts on a random/statistical basis.
Hastelloy is a high nickel alloy that is a bear to etch. I suspect a cocktail of strong/dangerous acids may be required. What I have used at depot is mixture of A-A-59105 [O-N-350] Nitric Acid + MIL-A-24641 Hydroflouric Acid + Water [remaining]. Nothing triffling about this mixture: Very dangerous stuff.
I Have also heard of high concentration A-A-55820 phosphoric acid combined with non-woven abrasive cleaning pads.
Sometimes aqueous or solvent precleaning, followed by light particle abrasive cleaning methods, works 'best' on high nickel alloys.
Regards, Wil Taylor
Trust Me! I'm an engineer!
Trust - But Verify!
We believe to be true what we prefer to be true.
For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible.
Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant – "Orion"
RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
I am trying to avoid the dangerous chemicals (no hydrofluoric or ferric chloride) this is why I am looking into the electrolytic etching using oxalic acid as the etching reagent (this is what was used in my college metallurgy lab) . I will have to train production QC to perform this process and I don’t like the idea of using the etching reagents that produce the toxic gasses.
RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
Suggest asking this question on the metals and metallurgy forum.
http://www.eng-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=330
Regards, Wil Taylor
Trust Me! I'm an engineer!
Trust - But Verify!
We believe to be true what we prefer to be true.
For those who believe, no proof is required; for those who cannot believe, no proof is possible.
Unfortunately, in science what You 'believe' is irrelevant – "Orion"
RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
Maui
RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X
The microetchs for lower power magnification (60X) to measure actual weld size and gross defects. Haste X is a nickle based super alloy akin to inconel.
Thanks for the the caution for safety.
RE: electrolytic etching of Hastelloy X