alloying elements

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birdog4

Joined
Jan 21, 2000
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Do specific alloying elements slow down the etching process?
Such as, will elevated silicon cause dificulty in obtaining a good etch? How about manganese?
I have been working some structural cable and it's really been tough getting a deep etch. Here's the makeup(major components):
C .86-.89
Si .25-.26
Mn ..62-.67
I've been etching in ferric chloride and not getting a very deep etch in this stuff. Left it in vinegar overnight and not a whole lot better.
Any ideas? bruce/birdog
 
How old is your etchant?
Has it been contaminated?

Also, with all the material being the same composition, it may all be etching the same. Thus, it might not show as a deep etch.
Stacy
 
Also have you diluted the ferric chloride. I think it does better with about 50% distilled water or as I use it 1/3 FC, 1/3 distilled water, 1/3 white vinegar. It also works better slightly warmed, but below 150f
 
The ferric is 3-1 dilution, fairly new.
The steel is welded structural cable.
If I put apiece of regular cable or pw in, it etches fine.
 
i've heard that reg. cable actually has several diff. steels in it. maybe this is a myth but if true, maybe the structural cable is composed of only one. someone told me they had cable tested one time and there was like5 or 6 diff. steels in it. not sure if this is a fact or not.
 
You will never get a good deep etch using that type of cable.
The reason;
It is composed of a single material. In order to have a good deep etch you need to have significant alloy differences between TWO steels.(or more)
Del
 
I am getting such a nice hamon and transition zone, I figgered it would etch deeper on the spine. Thinking gets me in trouble sometimes. :-) Thanks guys!
 
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