Macroetching
Macroetching is a metallographic technique used to reveal the microstructure of metals and alloys at a low magnification, typically from 1x to 10x. It involves immersing a prepared metal sample in a chemical etchant that preferentially attacks certain areas of the material. This differential attack highlights features such as grain boundaries, inclusions, segregations, porosity, and subsurface defects.
The preparation of a macroetched sample usually begins with cutting and grinding to expose a representative
The etching process can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the etchant
Macroetching is a valuable tool for quality control, failure analysis, and process development. It can quickly