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What is Marshall's Solution?

September 27, 2011

I finally found a copy of Metal Coloring, and ran across a reference to "Marshall's Solution". Page 55. It is described as a mixture of oxalic acid, peroxide and sulfuric. Apparently it can chemically polish steels. Although, the book goes on to say that the process has major drawbacks, it doesn't say what they are. Anyone out there know anything about this? There is a reference to what I think is the Journal of Electrodeposition from 1946, but I was not able to find anything.

The full reference reads:

Gill, J. P. J Electrodepos. Tech Soc., 1946, 21

Any help would be appreciated

Justin Kumpf
fabricator/finisher - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I've never heard of Marshall's solution, but you might take a look at United States Patent Application 20090302005.

James Totter, CEF
- Tallahassee, Florida
October 4, 2011

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October 19, 2011

Marshall's reagent is used for the preparation of metallographic specimens to show the grain structure of steels.

Part A 100 ml water, 5 ml conc. sulfuric acid (with stirring) 8 g oxalic acid (toxic)
Part B 30% hydrogen peroxide

For use mix equal parts A & B . Immerse the prepared vertically to avoid pitting.

The mix is made fresh each time as it has a short life.

It is unlikely that this solution would be useful for polishing steel in the general sense used in a finishing shop

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England

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October 21, 2011

Thanks Geoff,

It sounds like it is more of an etching solution. We may have a use for it, or maybe not. We do a lot of decorative work, who knows when someone might want to bring out the grain structure?

Regards,

Justin Kumpf
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA