Marble Acid Etching

These stains can be difficult to remove but not impossible.

Marble acid etching. When my husband and i were researching our kitchen renovation a couple years ago marble countertops were the clear frontrunner but we were nervous about the inevitable etching. Etch marks are commonly identified as water marks or stains. If needed a professional marble restorer can always be called to repair the damage. Etching is a corrosive chemical reaction that essentially eats at the marble.

Please note that scratch marks from sample preparation will also become apparent. The etchant will darken austenitic grains attack sigma phases and show grain flow. Although they look a lot like stains an etch mark is a physical alteration to the marble s surface by the acid. A sealer helps prevent stains but does not stop acid etching said hunter dasch vice president of rose restoration 800 413 9893.

Etch marks are not stains. Marble etching occurs upon contact with acidic foods and drinks like coffee soda wine alcohol and when harsh products like bleach vinegar ammonia and most common brand name cleaners are used for cleaning marble. Marble s reagent aka marble s etch is a metallographic etchant for etching 300 series austenitic stainless steels nickel and cobalt based superalloys. Soda spill on limestone.

Acid stains such as by a toilet bowl cleaner or battery acid cause what is known as etching on marble. So we paid visits to every marble topped bar and marble furnished ice cream parlor we could find cocking our heads to the side peering down long polished surfaces to examine the damage left by countless drippy. Lower than a 7 is on the acid side and higher than a 7 is on the basic side. Substances that contain acid ammonia and alcohol can etch marble meaning that the finish or the shine is removed if you accidentally spill one of these three substances.