Welding Metallurgy and Weldability of Stainless steels" by John C. Lippold and Damian J.

Kotecki, pages 343-345. Welding Metallurgy and Weldability of Stainless steels

To analyze the structure and grain size of 316 stainless steel, we use Aqua regia, that
means: 30 ml of distillated water, 20 ml HCl and 15 ml HNO3. It is used at room
temperature during approximately 120 s.

To quantify the grain size, we use electrolytic ecth: 60% wt. of HNO3 and 40% wt. of
distillated water at room temperature during approximately 120 s, using 10 mA/cm2 of
current.