Journal Published Online: 25 October 2016
Volume 5, Issue 5

Reproducible Surface Contrasting and Orientation Correlation of Low-Carbon Steels by Time-Resolved Beraha Color Etching

CODEN: MPCACD

Abstract

Color etchants have a huge potential in industrial applications and numerous investigations have been made to obtain a better understanding of the etching process. However, reproducibility and a solid knowledge of the ongoing processes are still missing. The work presented is a systematic study of the reproducibility of the Beraha color etching with potassium metabisulfite. By in situ observation of the etching process, the different states of the Beraha etching could be followed. It was shown that, at the beginning of the etching of dual-phase steels, the contrasting of the second phase by dissolving the less noble part of the second phase is the predominant contrast. Uncommonly, grain boundaries are hardly attacked. The color development of matrix grains is orientation sensitive and it was shown by comparison with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements, that similar orientated grains have similar colors.

Author Information

Britz, D.
Dept. of Material Science and Engineering, Saarland Univ., Saarbrücken, DE Material Engineering Center Saarland (MECS), Steinbeis Research Center, Saarbrücken, DE
Hegetschweiler, A.
Dept. of Material Science and Engineering, Saarland Univ., Saarbrücken, DE INM - Leibniz Inst. for New Materials, Structure Formation Group, Saarbrücken, DE
Roberts, M.
Dept. of Material Science and Engineering, Saarland Univ., Saarbrücken, DE
Mücklich, F.
Material Engineering Center, Saarbrücken, DE
Pages: 11
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: MPC20160067
ISSN: 2165-3992
DOI: 10.1520/MPC20160067