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Etching titanium to produce crystalline finish? [Maryland] 

November 16, 2006

Does anybody know the process by which this finish was produced? The picture linked below is of a Boker Orion folding knife, produced several years ago. The blade has a striking crystalline appearance.

The blade is titanium (unknown alloy) and has been etched so as to reveal the crystal structure with an overall light blue tint.

I am curious as to whether anybody who has etched titanium with the various acid formulations discussed (kroll's etch, oxalic acid, KOH/H202, etc) has managed to produce similar results.

Patrick Lee
student - Baltimore, MD, USA