Pre-Penetrant Etch
Pre-Penetrant Etch for Complex Designs. Get industry-leading, cost-effective etching solutions tailored to your exact design specifications.
What Is Pre-Penetrant Etch?
Pre-penetrant etch is the removal of metal that may be masked by a smearing operation that may bridge over potential defects. This bridging effect will make it difficult, if not impossible for the penetrant inspection process to find the bridged over defect.
Advantages of Pre-Penetrant Etch
A generally accepted/required process helping to ensure a good penetrant inspection process.
Limitations of Pre-Penetrant Etch
- Best suited for thin metals
Basic Principles of Pre-Penetrant Etch
Allows a controlled minute metal removal through chemical processes that clears metal that may be bridging over potential defects.
Common Applications
Aerospace
- Space
Refineries
Automotive
Railroad
- Shipping
- Military
- Commercial
Quality Assurance & Compliance
ISO 9001 & AS9100D Certified
Our procedures meet the latest ISO 9001 quality-management standards and AS9100D aerospace requirements.ITAR Registered
Full compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations for defense and government work.NADCAP Accreditation
Nadcap-approved processes at our Pico Rivera, Fontana, and South Gate facilities, ensuring industry-recognized special-process controls.100% Dimensional Traceability
Batch-lot tracking from raw material to final inspection report, with documented tolerances.In-House Chemical
Real-time bath titration controls and precision measuring tools (CMM, optical comparator, micrometer) to verify every feature.Continual Improvement Program
Regular internal audits and customer-driven process reviews to optimize quality and delivery.
Mitchell Labs and our approved supplier base have the ability to meet most, if not all, pre-penetrant etch requirements stated by the customer.
Frequently Asked Questions
While we specialize in aluminum alloys (1xxx–7xxx series), everything from commercially pure aluminum up through the highest-strength aerospace grades.
We reliably produce feature widths down to 0.003″ (0.076 mm) with dimensional tolerances of ±0.001″ (±0.025 mm). For critical applications, tighter tolerances can often be achieved with process validation.
Lead times are quoted on a job-by-job basis to ensure accuracy, and we’re happy to accommodate emergency or rush requests. Backed by decades of refining our expedited process under strict deadlines, we minimize turnaround without ever sacrificing quality, returning your parts quickly and reliably.