I'm trying to etch 3003-h18 aluminum layers without using an HF solution. The problem I've been having is severe pitting without any grain boundary information. Is there a milder etch that takes more time? I am new to aluminum so any help would be great. Grain sizes range from pancaked ~30 micron in bulk to ~5 micron equiaxed at interface. Most of the literature does ebsd, but alas I don't have an sem handy.
Thanks,
-srvclapton