Etching reagent Composition Remarks

have been cooled slowly.

Klemm's reagent 50 mL H2O Tint etches pearlite. Etching time: 40–120 s. Etch in
Klemm's reagent with the polished side of the sample
Na2S2O3 (enough for face up; do not agitate. Ferrite appears black-brown, but
saturation) carbides, nitrides, and phosphides remain white.
Phosphorus distribution can be detected more
1 g K2S2O5 (potassium sensitively than with usual phosphorus reagents based
metabisulfite) on copper salts.
Fe3C carbides
4% picral 96 mL ethyl alcohol Carbides will be delineated from the ferrite by a black
boundary.
4 g picric acid

5 drops 17% zephiran

chloride per 75 mL solution
Marshall's reagent Stock solution A: Excellent reagent that will color carbides a light tan.
The color variation will assist in differentiating small
100 mL H2O carbides on ferrite grain boundaries.

8 g oxalic acid

5 mL H2SO4 (sulfuric
acid)

Stock solution B:

H2O2 (30%) (hydrogen

peroxide)
Alkaline sodium 100 mL H2O Bring the solution to a low boil; do not boil dry.
picrate Etching time: 5 to 10 min. The solution will attack
25 g NaOH Bakelite mounts. Thermosetting epoxy mounts are
recommended. The solution will color cementite but
2 g picric acid will not color carbides with high (10%) chromium
content. The solution will also attack sulfides and
delineate grain boundaries in steels that have been
cooled slowly.
Ferrite and pearlite
2% nital/4% picral Mix equal parts 2% nital Etchant will reveal both ferrite and pearlite boundaries.
and aged 4% picral Etch the sample for 20 s in 4% picral. Rinse in an
4% picral followed alcohol bath, flush with alcohol, and dry. Next, etch the
by 2% nital 96 mL ethyl alcohol sample for 10–15 s in 2% nital.

4 g of picric acid

5 drops
p of 17% zephiran
p
chloride per 75 mL solution

2 mL HNO3 + 96 mL ethyl
alcohol
Bainite
4% picral 96 mL ethyl alcohol Etch to desired contrast. Sometimes, additional etching
in 2% nital will reveal substructure. This etchant is
4 g picric acid excellent for upper and lower banite.