High-quality thin foils for TEM

Electrolytic thinning of conductive materials is an effective method of quickly producing specimens for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) without any induced artifacts. In the Model 110 Twin-Jet Electropolisher, twin jets simultaneously polish both sides of the sample, creating electron transparent specimens within a few minutes. The electropolisher features easily adjustable electrolyte flow, polishing voltage, termination detection sensitivity, and jet and specimen holder positions. 

Integrated operation 

The electropolisher consists of the electrolyte pump and motor, jet assemblies, specimen holder, fiber optic assemblies (including the light source and photocell detector), and a box that holds a glass dish for the electrolyte.  

Select one of the following power controls to operate the Model 110 Automatic Twin-Jet Electropolisher:

• Model 120 Automatic Power Control

• Model 140 Digital Power Control

Optional accessories

Fischione recommends the following Fischione products that complement the Model 110 Automatic Twin-Jet Electropolisher.

• Model 130 Specimen Punch

• Model 220 Low Temp Container

DANGER. Many of the chemicals used in the solutions below are corrosive, flammable, explosive, and/or toxic — either as stand-alone chemicals or in mixtures. Users are cautioned to review applicable Safety Data Sheet (SDS) prior to using these chemicals, to strictly follow hazard controls identified in the SDS, and to always use chemicals consistent with manufacturer’s recommendations and applicable regulatory requirements. E.A. Fischione Instruments, Inc. assumes no responsibility for property damage or injury associated with the use of these chemicals or mixtures. 
 

Material	Composition	Solution	Conditions	Comment
Ag	Pure	Sulfuric 6%; Acetic 6%; Methanol 88%; Thiourea Cyanide Solution 12 g	25 C, 10 V, 18 mA	Slightly etched.
Al	Alloy 1100	Perchloric 93%; Sulfuric 6%; Hydrofluoric 1%	-25 °C, 15 V	Must keep below -25 °C
Al	Alloy 1100	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-10 °C, 10 V, 200 mA
Al	Alloy 2024	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-10 °C, 10 V, 200 mA
Al	Alloy 5052	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-10 °C, 10 V, 200 mA
Al	Alloy 6061	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-10 °C, 10 V, 200 mA
Al	Powder	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	8 °C, 30 V, 50 mA
Al	Pure	Perchloric 10%; Ethanol 90%	0 °C, 7 V, 80 mA	Excellent result, retains precipitates.
Al		Nitric 20 to 25%; Methanol 75 to 80%		Add liquid Nitrogen to electrolyte until ice forms. Begin polishing as soon as it liquefies.
Al Ag	Ag 5 to 25%	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 °C, 8 V, 40 mA
Al Be	As cast 50%	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-15 °C, 10 V, 200 mA
Al Be	As cast 90%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 35 V
Al Be	Be 0.5 to 30%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 17 V, 100 mA	For higher Be concentrations, use higher voltage.
Al Be Ti	Be 1 to 30%, Ti 1 to 10%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 20 V, 80 mA
Al Be Ti	Be 7%, Ti 2%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 50 V, 80 mA
Al Cu	Cu 4%	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 °C, 9 V, 10 mA	Very good result.
Al Cu	Cu 4%	Sulfuric 20%; Methanol 80%	5 °C, 40 V, 50 mA	Excellent result.
Al Cu		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 to -50 °C
Al Cu Ti	Alloy 2000 series	Nitric 25%; Methanol 75%; Hydrofluoric (1-5 drops)	-20 °C	If oxide film is present, remove it by dipping specimen in solution of 16 g Chromic Acid, 35 cc Phosphoric Acid, 65 cc Distilled H20 for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature.
Al Cu Ti	Alloy 2219	Perchloric 20%; Ethanol 80%	-30 °C, 35 V, 100 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed. Sample must be removed from holder as quickly as possible and rinsed in three beakers of ethanol to prevent oxide film.
Al Cu Ti	Alloy 2219	Perchloric 20%; Ethanol 80%	-30 °C, 35 V, 100 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed. Sample must be removed from holder as quickly as possible and rinsed in three beakers of ethanol to prevent oxide film.
Al Ge		Perchloric 10%; Glycerol 20%; Methanol 70%	-10 °C, 18 V, 60 mA
Al Li	Li 2 to 3%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 15 V, 40 mA
Al Mg	Mg 3%	Perchloric 10%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 70%
Al Mn	Mn 3 to 25%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 25 V, 125 mA	Very brittle, good polish.
Al Mn S	Mn 33%, S 3%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	8 °C, 25 V, 125 mA	Very brittle, good polish.
Al Ni	Ni 20 to 80%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 20%; Methanol 75%	5 °C, 37 V, 50 mA	Very good, small change in voltage with composition.
Al Si	Si 0.2%	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-22 °C, 12.5 V, 30 mA
Al Si	Si 6%	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-5 °C, 20 V, 200 mA
Al Ti	Ti 50%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 25 V, 40 mA	Very good.
Au Fe	Fe 25%	Hydrochloric 6%; Sulfuric 6%; H20 88%	25 °C, 10 V, 60 mA
Be	Pure	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 30 V, 40 mA	Slight etch with respect to orientation.
Be Ti	Ti 12%	Sulfuric 20%; Methanol 80%	-10 °C, 25 V, 60 mA
Be Ti	Ti 2%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 55 V 40 mA
Be V	V 50%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 55 V, 40 mA
Bi²Te³		Tartaric 2%; Sodium Hydroxide 9%; H2O 89%
Cd		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 °C, 7 V, 180 mA
Co		Various alloys	Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%
Co Fe	Fe 5 to 8%	Perchloric 25%; Acetic 75%	25 °C, 20 V, 80 mA
Co Ni		Perchloric 25%; Acetic 75%	-30 °C, 25 V
Co Ni		Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	80 V
Cu	Pure	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-18 °C, 20 V, 40 mA
Cu	Various alloys	Phosphoric 30%; H2O 70%	Increase voltage until bubbles form on specimen surface, then reduce voltage until bubbles just disappear.
Cu		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 to -50 °C
Cu Au	Au 50%	Nitric 30%; Methanol 70%	-25 °C, 20 V
Cu Be	Be 10%	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-15 °C, 55 V, 80 mA
Cu Be		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 to -50 °C
Cu Be Co	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-50 °C, 65 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed. Rinse in methanol. Surface may oxidize rapidly.
Cu Cr	Cr 3.8%	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	0 °C, 35 V, >100 mA	Good result, slight etching at the grain boundaries.

 

Cu CuO	CuO <5%	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-35 °C, < 8 V, 200 mA
Cu Fe	Fe 30%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	-20 °C, 25 V
Cu Ni Sn	Single Crystal	Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	-10 °C, 20 V, 45 mA
Cu Ni Sn	Spinodal	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 °C, 20 V, 80 mA
Cu Pd	Pd 30 to 50%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 35%; Methanol 60%	0 °C, 40 V, 200 mA
Cu Si		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-50 °C, 65 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed. Rinse in methanol. Surface may oxidize rapidly.
Cu Ti	Ti 1.6%	Nitric 15%; Methanol 85%
Cu Ti		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 to -50° C
Discaloy	Gamma	Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%	25 °C, 5 V, 30 to 45 mA	Use low electrolyte flow.
Discaloy		Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-30 °C, 5 V, 30 to 45 mA	Use low electrolyte flow.
Fe	Pure	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	15 °C, 30 V, 30 mA
Fe	Various alloys	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%
Fe		Chromic 50%; Acetic 50%	27 V
Fe AI C		Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 35%; Methanol 60%	-20 °C, 15 V
Fe AI O	Al <1%; O <1%	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	20 °C, 35 to 40 V, 30 mA	Good result.
Fe Al		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 to -50 °C
Fe Be	Be 25%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 35%; Methanol 60%	10 °C, 15 V
Fe C	C <1%	Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-10 °C, 10 V
Fe Cr	Cr 40%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 30 V, 65 mA
Fe Cr	Cr 46%	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	0 °C, 30 V
Fe Cu	Cu 0.3%	Perchloric 33%; Acetic 33%; Butoxyethanol 34%	10 °C, 20 to 30 V, 200 mA
Fe MnS	MnS 2 to 5%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	15 °C, 25 V, 80 mA	Slightly etched.
Fe Ni	Ni 35%	Perchloric 10%; Methanol 90%
Fe Pd	Pd 15 to 70%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	5 °C, 30 V, 15 mA
Fe Si	Si 3%	Nitric 80%; Methanol 20%	35 °C, 20 V, 50 to 60 mA	Large thin areas. Sample must be removed from holder as quickly as possible and rinsed in three beakers of ethanol to prevent oxide film.
Fe Si	Si 3%	Sulfuric 80%; Methanol 20%	-35 °C, 20 V, 50 to 60 mA	Large thin areas. Sample must be removed from holder as quickly as possible and rinsed in three beakers of ethanol to prevent oxide film.
Fe Si O	Si <1%; O <1%	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	20 °C, 35-40 V, 30 mA	Good result.
FV 535		Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-20 °C, 30 mA	Use low to moderate electrolyte flow.
Glass		Hydrofluoric 90%; Hydrochloric 10%		Chemical polish only.
Inconel	Alloy 600	Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-40 °C, 15 to 20 V, 80 to 90 mA	Use low to moderate electrolyte flow.
Inconel	Alloy 690	Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-40 °C, 40 V, 150 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Inconel	Alloy 706 (cold worked)	Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-40 °C, 150 V, 90 to 100 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Mar M 509		Nitric 4%; Isobutanol 48%; Methanol 48%; Zinc Chloride 40 g	-40 °C, 150 V, 25 to 60 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Mg		Nitric 10%; Methanol 90%	20 V
Mo		Sulfuric 13%; Methanol 87%	-40 °C, 80 to 100 mA
Mo		Sulfuric 80%; Hydrofluoric 20%
Mo C	C <1%	Sulfuric 5%; Glycerol 30%; Methanol 65%	-30 °C, 35 V, 65 mA
Mo Hf N		Sulfuric 20%; Methanol 80%	25 °C, 17 V, 95 mA	Dip in phosphoric after polishing.
Mo Hf N		Perchloric 5%, Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 105 V, 90 mA	Slightly etched.
Mo Hf N		Sulfuric 20%; Methanol 80%	25 °C, 70 V, >100 mA	Good result, Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Monel		Nitric 37%; Methanol 63%	-40 °C, 40 to 50 V, 60 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Nb	Pure	Hydrofluoric 1%; Sulfuric 6%; Methanol 93%	-40 °C, 40 V, 40 mA	Slightly etched.
Nb	Various alloys	Hydrofluoric 1%; Sulfuric 2%; Methanol 97%
Nb		Saturated Solution of Ammonium Fluoride in Methanol 13%; Methanol 87%	-30 °C, 150 V	Thins at a rate of 5 µm/min. Maintaining temperature is critical.
Ni	Pure	Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%	0 °C, 35 V, 50 mA	Excellent result.
Ni Al	Al 50%	Perchloric 3%; Butoxyethanol 32%; Methanol 65%	-45 °C, 18 V, 70 mA
Ni Al		Perchloric 10%; Methanol 90%
Ni Cr	Cr 33%	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	10 °C, 55 V, 65 mA
Ni Mo		Nitric 33%; Methanol 67%	-30 °C to -50 °C
Ni Nb	Nb 40%	Perchloric 10%; Ethanol 90%	8 °C, 35 to 40 V
Ni V	V 2%	Perchloric 10%; Acetic 90%	10 °C, 55 V, 60 mA
Pd	Pure	Perchloric 16%; Acetic 42%; Butoxyethanol 42%	-10 °C, 25 to 30 V	Deforms easily.
Pd Ni	Ni 20 to 50%	Perchloric 16%; Acetic 42%; Butoxyethanol 42%	-10 °C, 25 to 30 V
Pt	Pure	Saturated Solution of Calcium Chloride in H2O	25 °C, 35 V
Pt C	C <1%	Saturated Solution of Calcium Chloride in H2O	25 °C, 20 V
Pt Ga	Ga 4%	Saturated Solution of Calcium Chloride in H2O	25 °C, 20 V
Si		Hydrofluoric 91%; H2O 9%; Potassium Permanganate 10.5 g	-25 °C	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Si Cu	Alloy 2124	Nitric 25%; Methanol 75%	-30 °C
Stainless Steel	Alloy 302	Perchloric 10%; Ethanol 90%	-25 °C, 25 V, 10 mA
Stainless Steel	Alloy 303	Perchloric 5%; Acetic 95%	15 °C, 30 V, 80 mA
Stainless Steel	Alloy 304	Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%	25 °C, 10 to 15 V, 60 to 90 mA	Use low electrolyte flow.
Stainless Steel	Alloy 308	Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%	25 °C, 10 to 15 V, 60 to 90 mA	Use low electrolyte flow.
Stainless Steel	Alloy 310	Perchloric 5%; Acetic 95%	25 °C, 35 V, 80 mA
Stainless Steel	Alloy 420	Sulfuric 40%; Phosphoric 60%	60 °C, 10 V
Stainless Steel	Alloy 420	Perchloric 15%; Ethanol 85%	25 °C, 18 V
Stainless Steel		Sulfuric 40%; Phosphoric 60%
Steel	Low Carbon	Glacial Acetic 500 mL; Anhydrous Sodium Chromate 100 g
Ta	Pure	Hydrofluoric 3%; Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 87%	-25 °C, 35 V, 80 mA	Slightly etched.
Ta lr	Ta 50%	Saturated Solution of Calcium Chloride in H2O	25 °C, 20 V, 200 mA	Good result.
Ti	Various alloys	Perchloric 6%; Butoxyethanol 35%; Methanol 59%	-30 °C
Ti		Perchloric 6%; Butoxyethanol 35%; Methanol 59%
Ti		Sulfuric 3%; Hydrochloric 3%; Methanol 94%	-30 °C
Ti Al		Perchloric 5%, Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	5 °C, 35 V, 30 mA	Slightly etched at grain boundaries
Ti Al		Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-30 °C, 55 V, 35 to 45 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Ti Al		Sulfuric 5%; Methanol 95%	-30 °C, 55 V, 35 to 45 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Ti Al Be		Perchloric 5%, Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 30 V, 30 mA
Ti Al Nb		Hydrofluoric 1%; Sulfuric 5%; Methanol 94%
Ti Al Si	As cast	Sulfuric 20%; Methanol 80%	5 °C, 50 V, 80 mA	Very good result
Ti Al V	Al 6%; V 4%	Perchloric 6%; Butoxyethanol 34%; Methanol 60%	-30 °C, 35 V, 9 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Ti B	B 7%	Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-20 °C, 11 V, 170 mA	The colder, the better.
Ti Be	Be 12%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	5 °C, 20 V, 40 mA	Good result.
Ti Be	Be 35%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	-10 °C, 15 V, 30 mA
Ti C	C 1.5%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	25 °C, 11 V, 150 mA
Ti Fe	Fe 25 to 30%	Perchloric 8%; Butoxyethanol 10%; Methanol 70%; H2O 12%	10 °C, 12 V, 120 mA
Ti Ge		Hydrochloric 3%; Sulfuric 3%; Methanol 94%	-30 °C
Ti Mo	Mo 10%	Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 90%	-18 °C, 32 V, 90 mA
Ti Nb Mo		Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 90%	10 °C, 10 V, 500 mA
Ti Ni Fe Si	Fe 1%	Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 90%	-15 °C, 10 V
Ti Ni Fe	Ti 50%	Sulfuric 10%; Hydrofluoric 5%; Methanol 85%	20 to 25 V	Slightly etched.
Ti V	V 10%	Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 90%	-18 °C, 33 V, 8 0 mA
Ti V Be	Be 10%; V 40%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	-10 °C, 70 to 85 V, 50 mA
U	Pure	Sulfuric 20%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 45 V
Udimet	Alloys 710 to 720	Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-20 °C, 45 to 55 V, 55 to 65 mA	Use moderate electrolyte flow.
V Be	Be 50%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	0 °C, 55 V, 40 mA
W		Sodium Hydroxide 2%; H2O 98%		Use low electrolyte flow.
X-45		Nitric 4%; Isobutanol 48%; Methanol 48%; Zinc Chloride 40 g	-40 °C, 150 V, 25 to 35 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed. It takes 12 minutes to thin a 50 µm thick disk.
X-750		Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-30 °C, 100 mA	Fast electrolyte flow needed.
Zr		Perchloric 20%; Methanol 80%	-40 °C, 35 to 45 mA	Use moderate electrolyte flow.
Zr		Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%	25 °C, 35 to 45 mA	Use moderate electrolyte flow.
Zr		Perchloric 20%; Acetic 80%
Zr Be	Be 5%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	5 °C, 30 V, 60 mA
Zr Co Ni	Co 40%; Ni 10%	Perchloric 5%; Butoxyethanol 15%; Methanol 80%	-10 °C, 35 V, 25 mA
Zr Nb	Nb 80%	Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 90%	-5 °C, 25 V, 85 mA	Slightly etched.
Zr Nb	Zr 50%; Nb 50%	Sulfuric 10%; Methanol 90%	-10 °C, 22 V, 90 mA	Good result.

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Additional resources

For additional recipes, refer to:

Petzow, G. Metallographic etching: Techniques for metallotraphy, ceramography, plastography. Materials Park, OH: ASM International, 1999. Print.

Vander, Voort G. F. Metallography, Principles and Practice. Materials Park: ASM International, 1999. Print.

See Product warranty.