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Etching Ti-Nb and V-Nb micro-alloyed steels

I want to etch Ti-Nb and V-Nb microalloyed steels before observing them under an electron microscope. Please let me know what chemicals can be used for etching of the above mentioned steels.

Thank you,

Tenneti Kishore Kumar
- Lafayette, Louisiana

Nitric : Hydrochloric : Hydrofluoric acid works very well for Inconels and nimonics.

John Tuohy
- Ireland

For these very-low-alloyed steels, 2 percent Nital is good. Just add 2 mLs concentrated nitric acid to 100 mLs ethyl alcohol.

Bill Reynolds [deceased]
consultant metallurgist - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
We sadly relate the news that Bill passed away on Jan. 29, 2010.

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