Etchant Selection Guide for Stainless Steels and Superalloys

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informationalpurposeonly.We DID NOT test all the metals listed on this document. Users should make their own
investigations to determine the suitability of the information for their particular purposes. ESLaboratory,LLCmakesno
representations,warrantiesorconditionsofanykind,expressorimplied.

Lastupdatedon11/17/2015

Microstructures of Stainless Steels

Name Etchant
General microstructure (unknown grade) Vilellas reagent
Electrolytic etching (best)
Austenite grains (austenitic stainless steel)
or Marble's (aggressive)
Carbides Vilellas reagent
Carbides, sensitized Vilellas reagent
Delta ferrite Vilellas
Ferrite grains (ferritic stainless steel) Kallings
Martensite structure Vilellas, Frys, or Kallings 2
Sigma phase Vilellas

Stainless Steels and Superalloys

Alloy Name Etchant
301 Frys
302 Frys
303 Frys or Vilellas
303SE Kallings 2
304 Frys or Vilellas
309 Vilellas
310 Vilellas
316 Marbles
317 Marbles
321 Marbles
347 Vilellas
403 Vilellas
405 Vilellas
410 Vilellas
416 Vilellas
418 Vilellas
420 Vilellas
422 Vilellas
430 Vilella's
431 Frys
440 Vilella's

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135 Mod (Nitralloy 135 Mod) Vilellas
13-8 PH Frys
15-5 PH Frys
17-22 Vilellas
17-22A Vilellas
17-4 PH Frys
21-6-9 (21Cr-6Ni-9Mn) Frys
22-13-5 (22Cr-13Ni-5Mn) Frys
300M Frys
A182 F51 Superalloy Etch
A286 Fry's
AerMet (All) Frys
AISI 664 (V-57) Kallings 2
Alloy 20 (20Cb-3 stainless) Vilellas
Alloy 901 (Nimonic 901, Pyromet 901) Kallings 2
Alloy 92 Frys
Alloy X Superalloy Etch
AM 355 Vilella's
Chrome Core 12-FM Kallings 2
Chrome Core 13-FM Kallings 2
Chrome Core 13-XP Kallings 2
Chrome Core 18-FM Kallings 2
Chromoly Vilellas
Colmonoy Superalloy Etch
CK20 (Cast 310) Marbles
CRES (corrosion-resistant steel) Frys
D6AC Vilellas
Discaloy Superalloy Etch
ER308 Frys
FV535 Vilellas
Greek Ascoloy Superalloy Etch or Vilellas
GTD222 Frys
Hastelloy X (Pyromet 680) Superalloy Etch
Hastelloy HR-120 Frys
HP 9-4-20 Frys
HP 9-4-30 Frys
Hy-Tuf Frys
Incoloy 800 HT Superalloy Etch
Incoloy 903 Superalloy Etch
Incoloy 907 Frys
Incoloy 909 Superalloy Etch
Incoloy 925 Kallings 2
Inconel 600 Superalloy Etch
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Inconel 706 Kallings 2
Inconel 713 Superalloy Etch
Inconel 718 Kallings 2
Inconel 722 Frys
Inconel 783 Frys
Inconel 901 Superalloy Etch
Inco X750 Superalloy Etch
Invar 36 Frys
JBK-75 Frys
Jethete Frys
Kovar Frys
Monel Frys
Monel 400 (Nickel Copper 400) Frys
Monel K-500 Frys
N155 (Alloy N155) Frys
N161 Frys
NCF 3015 Kallings 2
Nickel 200/201 Kallings 2
Nimonic Frys
Nimonic C263 Superalloy Etch
Nimonic PE16 Frys
Nitralloy Frys
Nitronic Superalloy Etch
Pyromet 720 Kallings 2
Pyromet 860 Kallings 2
Pyromet V-57 Kallings 2
Pyrowear 675 Vilellas
T321 stainless Frys
Thermo-Span Frys or Kallings 2
TrimRite Vilellas
Trinamet stainless Vilellas
UDIMET 720 (U720) Superalloy Etch
Waspaloy Superalloy Etch

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