I should have mentioned the parts are mounted and polished , I just need a chemical etch to highlight the grain boundaries similar to what is used for SnPb solder joints. Exotic techniques are not available but am looking fore something that I can put in a wet lab. John Sent from my iPad On Mar 21, 2013, at 4:37 PM, Inge Hernefjord <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > John, I used to mold the specimen in well cured two-component Araldite, do > the polishing with oil and diamond plastic discs to avoid contamination of > the solder joint with polish particles. Use specimen rotating holder.Then > wipe the stub with finest tissue to remove oil. Avoid solvents. Then > perform a couple of minutes Argon sputtering, which will enhance the > difference in hardness, Finally do microscopy with polarized light and a > variable Nomarski lens, see page 119 here: > http://bama.ua.edu/~mweaver/courses/MTE481/5_MTE481-MICROSCOPE&MODES.pdf > > There are many other methods of course, e.g. EDX element mapping mode, > which I have practiced many a times. > > Inge > > > > > On 21 March 2013 15:53, <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> What would a good etch be for etching SAC305 solder joints to enhance >> viewing grain boundaries? >> >> Thanks, >> John >> >> ______________________________**______________________________**__________ >> This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. >> For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] >> **______________________________**__________ > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. > For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by the Symantec Email Security.cloud service. For more information please contact helpdesk at x2960 or [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________