Electrochemical Electrolyte Solutions

Electrolytes are liquid solutions used to aid the electrochemical marking process.

Electrochemical etching is often incorrectly referred to as "acid etching" - however unlike "acid etching" - electrochemical electrolytes are not caustic and will not cause harm through incidental skin contact.

Electrolyte is simply used to aid the flow of low-voltage electric charge through the gaps in the stencil. Most of the electrolytes are corrosion-free, and for those which are not, we can supply the appropriate neutralyte (neutralising solution) where the material is susceptible to corrosion.

Although there are a few "general purpose" electrolytes - the use of a specific electrolyte to suit the particular material may yield a better result.

Summary:

Electrolyte

Material/Application

33

Hard chrome plated metals

332

Carbides

676

Tool steels

Ball bearings

67/10/3

All corrosion-susceptibly, ordinary steels

6744

Chrome steels and other stainless steels

639

Aluminium die casting

Zinc plated materials

71

Chemically nickel plated materials high-alloyed tool steels

72

Chrome steels (18/8, VA)

74

Saw blades

75

Chrome plated materials

98

Titanium

117

Black oxidized (bronzed) materials

119

Steam-finished materials

Detailed listing

Material

 Type of marking  

 Felt/Conductive net

Aftercare

 

Dark
(black marking)

Deep

(etching only)

Light (white marking)

Felt BK (44/F, 46/F)

Felt GN

(35/F)

Felt GY (43/F)

Felt WH (37/F)

Conductive net

Neutralise

Wash with cold water

Wipe with dry cloth

Aluminium

 

71

   

x

x

       

x

Aluminium

 

332

 

x

 

x

 

x

x

 

x

Aluminium

 

402

     

x

     

x

 

Aluminium

6744

   

x

     

x

   

x

Aluminium

8090

   

x

       

x

 

x

Aluminium

 

DE10

 

x

     

x

x

 

x

Aluminium

 

DE20

     

x

   

x

 

x

Aluminium

 

DE40

   

x

x

   

x

 

x

Aluminium

 

DE90

 

x

     

x

x

 

x

Aluminium

SP1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Aluminium diecasting

639

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Aluminium, pure

6744 + DE30

   

x

     

x

   

x

Aluminium, pure

44 + 8090

             

x

 

x

Aluminium, pure

55 + DE10

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Al: hot-dip Al coated metals

80

   

x

     

x

   

x

Al: hot-dip Al coated metals

676

   

x

     

x

   

x

Al: hot-dip Al coated metals

701/9

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Brass

71

   

x

     

x

   

x

Brass

401

       

x

     

x

 

Brass

402

       

x

     

x

 

Brass

 

DE20

     

x

   

x

 

x

Brass

639 + N2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Brass, pure

502

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Brass, pure

676R/74

   

x

     

x

   

x

Brass, pure

75+639+N1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Brass, pure

639 + N2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Brass, gold plated

   

402

   

x

     

x

 

Bronze

402

       

x

     

x

 

Carbide

332

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Carbide

332/2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Carbide

 

332/2

     

x

   

x

 

x

Carbide

332/9

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Carbide

 

332/9

     

x

   

x

 

x

Copper

122

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Copper

 

DE20

     

x

   

x

 

x

Copper

639 + N8

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Copper

201 + N1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Copper

NF100 + N1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Copper

55 + DE10

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Copper alloy, heat resistant

401

       

x

     

x

 

Cr: yellow chromated metals

   

8090

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: chromed metals

75

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: chromed metals

6744

   

x

     

x

   

x

Cr: chromed metals

DE20

             

x

 

x

Cr: chromed metals

SP1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: hard chromed metals

75

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: hard chromed metals

332

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: hard chromed metals

332/2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: hard chromed metals

33

   

x

     

x

   

x

Cr: chrome steel

72

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: chrome steel

75

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Cr: chrome steel

676

   

x

     

x

   

x

Cr: chrome steel

67/10/3

   

x

     

x

   

x

Chrome nickel titan alloy

402

 

402

   

x

     

x

 

Grey cast iron

70

   

x

     

x

   

x

Grey cast iron

71

   

x

     

x

   

x

Grey cast iron

72

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Grey cast iron

80

   

x

     

x

   

x

Grey cast iron

6744

   

x

     

x

   

x

Grey cast iron

SP1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Nickel silver No. 2.0771

639

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Ni: chemically Ni plated metals

44

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Ni: chemically Ni plated metals

71

   

x

     

x

   

x

Ni: chemically Ni plated metals

75

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Ni: chemically Ni plated metals

6744 + N1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Ni: chemically Ni plated metals

44 + 8090

             

x

 

x

Ni: chemically Ni plated metals

55 + DE10

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Nickel titan cobalt alloy

402

       

x

     

x

 

Nitrified metals

33

   

x

     

x

   

x

Nitrified metals

119

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Nitrified metals

   

119

x

     

x

x

 

x

Slide gauges

332/2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Stainless steel

70

   

x

     

x

   

x

Stainless steel

71

   

x

     

x

   

x

Stainless steel

 

71

 

x

 

x

 

x

   

x

Stainless steel

72

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Stainless steel

75

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Stainless steel

   

117

         

x

 

x

Stainless steel

 

117

           

x

 

x

Stainless steel

   

119

         

x

 

x

Stainless steel

 

119

           

x

 

x

Stainless steel

401

       

x

     

x

 

Stainless steel

701/2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Stainless steel

701/9

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Stainless steel

6744

   

x

     

x

   

x

Stainless steel

DE20

             

x

 

x

Stainless steel

 

DE20

     

x

   

x

 

x

Stainless steel

SP1

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Stainless steel

33 + DE40

             

x

 

x

Stainless steel

 

33 + DE40

   

x

x

   

x

 

x

Steel, blank

676

   

x

     

x

   

x

Steel, blank

67/10/3

   

x

     

x

   

x

Steel, blank

 

DE20

   

x

x

   

x

 

x

Steel, bronzed

   

114

x

     

x

x

 

x

Steel, bronzed

   

117

x

     

x

x

 

x

Steel, steam-finished

   

119

x

     

x

x

 

x

Steel, hot-dip galvanised

401

       

x

     

x

 

Steel, hot-dip galvanised

402

       

x

     

x

 

Steel, zinc-plated

6744/2

   

x

     

x

x

 

x

Steel, rust-free

402

       

x

     

x

 

Steel St 37

401

       

x

     

x

 

Steel St 37

402

       

x

     

x

 

Steel, non-alloy

401

         

x

   

x

 

Steel, non-alloy

676

     

x

   

x

   

x

Steel, non-alloy

67/10/3

     

x

   

x

   

x

Steel, non-alloy

 

DE20

     

x

x

 

x

 

x

Steel, non-alloy

 

DE40

     

x

x

 

x

 

x

Titan

98

     

x

   

x

   

x

Titan

332/2

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

Titan

332/9

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

Titan

402

         

x

   

x

 

Titan

502

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

VA steel

114

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

VA steel

115

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

VA steel

402

         

x

   

x

 

VA steel

6744

     

x

   

x

   

x

Zi: zinc-plated metals

502

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

Zi: zinc-plated metals

639

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

Zi: zinc-plated metals

KN201

     

x

   

x

   

x

Zi: zinc-plated metals

NF100

     

x

   

x

   

x

Zinc diecasting

502

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

Zinc diecasting

DE10

     

x

   

x

x

 

x

Zinc diecasting

KN201

     

x

   

x

   

x

Due to the large variety of different material and alloys, this list is not exhaustive. Should you wish to ensure the most suitable electrolyte is chosen, we can conduct sample-marking to ensure that you use the best electrolyte for your metal.