Stainless Steel Chemical Etching

Stainless steel is one of the most frequently used materials for chemical etching due to its compositional strength. When passed through the harsh acids used in chemical etching, stainless steel is able to retain its temper, hardness, and functional properties, allowing for components to be created with smooth surfaces and precise edges.

Chemical etching offers a convenient solution for producing shallow text or images in all sorts of metal components. We can work with your design requirements to deliver high quality, precision parts. We also offer chemical etching on aluminum.

Stainless Steel Grades Used for Acid Etching

Stainless steel comes in many different grades, each with their own set of strengths. The two most common types of stainless steel used for chemical etching are austenitic and martensitic, however; there are several other stainless steel grades that can be used for your etching project.

What is the Chemical Etching Process?

Chemical etching is achieved by printing a negative version of the artwork on a surface using chemical-resistant ink. The material is then passed through ferric acid or nitric acid to dissolve a thin layer from any unprinted areas. This leaves behind clearly etched designs that are highly wear resistant, making them ideal for industrial and outdoor applications.

Benefits of Etching Stainless Steel:

Low set-up costs
Maintains low tolerances
Composition remains unaltered
Ideal for complex or intricate designs