Oxide Removal on Alloys: Powerful Acid Option for Ti

Summary for oxide removal on alloys Discussion

Removal of oxide on alloys comes up in the context of a 3-D printing finishing question. The only answer in the thread is from an unnamed contributor who says that, for a titanium finishing job years ago, they used a 1:1 mix of nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrofluoric acid (HF) to remove oxide, while warning that it is "scary stuff." The same answerer adds that ammonium bifluoride might work as a substitute for HF. Because the thread excerpt is brief, no broader process details, safety steps, or confirmation from other participants are provided. The practical takeaway is that oxide removal on titanium/alloys was reported using a very aggressive acid mix, with a possible alternative suggested, but the advice is clearly hazardous and should be treated cautiously.