Macrostructural evaluation of the internal quality of continuous cast slabs, blooms and billets is of primary importance to today’s steel industry.
The Electrolytic Macroetcher quickly and efficiently reveals the internal structure by removing a precise layer of steel using a patented method of forced current-anodic dissolution. The solidification pattern and any potential defects such as voids, porosity, flakes, bursts, inclusions and cracks can then be observed.
The volume of acid consumed is reduced by 90% over conventional hot-acid-bath etching. The acid used is cold and greatly diluted and flows in isolation only during etching. As a result, fume generation and disposition is greatly minimized.
After loading the sample and setting the etch parameters, the etch process is entirely automated. The sample is indexed, etched, cleaned, dried, and released for inspection in fewer than 10 minutes allowing for repeatability and accurate comparability between samples.
A complete Macroetcher system will cost less than conventional hot-acid-etch methods. Operational costs are also reduced as less effluent management and general labour are required to operate the system.
Hatch provides the design and equipment for a complete metallurgical laboratory facility including layout proposals, detailed building design, supply and installation of all laboratory equipment, commissioning, maintenance training and operator training.
