1023 - Aluminum Oxide Remover and Surface Etchant - 250ml

Precision Surface Preparation for Aluminum Alloys

The S1096 Aluminum Alloy Etchant is a specialized chemical formulation designed to address the unique challenges of preparing aluminum surfaces for industrial processing. Aluminum naturally forms a tenacious, refractory oxide layer immediately upon exposure to air. This oxide layer, while protective against corrosion, is a significant contaminant in manufacturing processes such as welding, brazing, non-destructive testing (NDT), and coating application. The S1096 solution chemically attacks and dissolves this oxide layer without aggressively eroding the base metal when used as directed, providing a pristine surface energy state ideal for subsequent operations.

In the context of Non-Destructive Testing, particularly liquid penetrant inspection, a chemically etched surface is often required to ensure that surface smears from mechanical preparation do not mask discontinuities. S1096 effectively opens up the surface grain structure, allowing for more accurate inspection results. For bonding and coating applications, the etchant increases surface roughness on a microscopic level, significantly enhancing mechanical interlocking and chemical bonding sites. This 250ml quantity is packaged for laboratory use, small batch processing, or localized field applications where large dip tanks are impractical.

The formulation is balanced to provide consistent etch rates across various aluminum series, from soft 1000-series to complex aerospace-grade alloys. Users must observe strict safety protocols, as effective etchants are inherently acidic or caustic. Proper neutralization and rinsing following the application of S1096 are critical to prevent ongoing chemical reactions that could lead to corrosion or salt formation. This product represents a vital step in the quality assurance chain for high-stakes aluminum fabrication.