Titanium Etchants

Please use the table below to select the correct etchant for your titanium alloy.

Grade of Titanium: 
Etchant to Use: 

Unknown grade titanium alloys
Kroll’s

Beta C

CP Ti (Commercially pure titanium, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4)

Ti 15-3

Ti 21S (Beta 21S)

Ti 3-2.5 (Ti 3Al-2.5V, Grade 9)

Ti 5-2.5 (Ti 5Al-2.5Sn, Grade 6)

Ti 6-2-4-2 (Ti 6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo)

Ti 6-4 (Ti 6Al-4V, Grade 5)

Ti 6-6-2 (Ti 6Al-6V-2Sn)

Alpha case detection
First Kroll’s then 2% HF

Nitinol, Ni-Ti alloy
ASTM 151

Macro-etching titanium
AWS D1.9 Titanium weld etch