Preparation by Material Class

Find the right preparation approach for your material. Every metal, ceramic, and composite is sorted into one of 11 classes based on how it behaves during prep.

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11 Classes

Material Classification System

Our 11-class system organizes materials by their preparation characteristics, so you can find the right procedure for each material type.

CLASS-1

Soft, Ductile Materials

Aluminum alloys, copper alloys, magnesium alloys, precious metals, lead, tin, zinc, and polymer matrix composites.

Aluminum Guide Copper Guide Magnesium Guide Precious Metals Guide

Etching: Aluminum Brass & Bronze Copper Alloys Tin Alloys Zinc Alloys

$Refractory metals microstructure$

CLASS-2

Refractory Metals

Refractory metals (tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, rhenium, hafnium, zirconium) and beryllium.

Refractory Metals Guide

Nodular cast iron microstructure showing graphite nodules

CLASS-3

Lower Ductility Metals

Cast irons (gray, ductile, white), powder metallurgy materials (Fe-Cu, stainless PM, tool steel PM), and sintered alloys.

Cast Iron Guide Powder Metallurgy Guide

Etching: Cast Iron

CLASS-4

Soft Brittle Non-metals

Multilayer ceramic capacitors, MEMS, semiconductors, and functional ceramics.

PCB/Chip Guide

1018 carbon steel ferrite-pearlite microstructure

CLASS-5

Medium Hard/Ductile Metals

Low/medium carbon steels, stainless steels, and annealed structural steels. Includes weldments and AM/3D-printed builds in these alloys.

Carbon Steel Guide Stainless Guide Welding Guide AM Guide

Etching: Low Carbon Steel Stainless Steel

CLASS-6

Tough, Hard Non-ferrous

Titanium alloys, nickel superalloys, cobalt alloys, and high-temperature alloys. Includes AM/3D-printed Ti and Ni-alloy builds.

Titanium Guide Nickel Guide AM Guide

Etching: Titanium Hastelloy & Ni Superalloys

CLASS-7

Coatings & Surface Treatments

Thermal spray coatings (WC-Co, NiCr, YSZ, Cr3C2-NiCr), hard chrome plating, anodized coatings, and galvanized coatings.

Thermal Spray Guide

CLASS-8

Hardened Steels

Tool steels, case-hardened steels, and through-hardened steels.

Tool Steel Guide

Etching: High Carbon Steel

Metal matrix composite microstructure showing SiC reinforcement in metal matrix

CLASS-9

Metal Matrix Composites

Al-SiC, Mg-Al₂O₃, Ti-B₄C composites, fiber-reinforced MMCs (SiC fiber, boron fiber), and high-temperature MMCs. Note: Polymer Matrix Composites (PMCs) are in CLASS-1.

Composites Guide

CLASS-10

Engineered Ceramics

Oxide ceramics, non-oxide ceramics, and advanced ceramic materials.

Ceramics Guide

Etching: Ceramics

CLASS-11

Very Hard Brittle Materials

Cermets (tungsten carbide, TiC-Ni), technical glasses (borosilicate, fused silica), and minerals (quartz, garnet, spinel).

Cermets & Glasses Guide

Materials Database

Coming Soon

Our database of 100+ materials is being revised to verify every property and procedure against primary sources. It will return with preparation procedures, material properties, and recommended techniques.

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