Acid Marble Etching

If needed a professional marble restorer can always be called to repair the damage.

Acid marble etching. Soda spill on limestone. An etch is not a stain and cannot be prevented by using even the best penetrating stone sealer. Lower than a 7 is on the acid side and higher than a 7 is on the basic side. Sprinkle a scrubbing cleanser onto the surface with a few drops of water.

Here is a list of some surprising substances that can etch stone. The etchant will darken austenitic grains attack sigma phases and show grain flow. Think of it like a burn that removes the finished. If you have a honed white marble surface that shows acid etching you can either call in a stone professional to treat the surface or you can try the following technique on your own.

Acid etching is the process of applying hydrochloric muriatic or buffered phosphoric acid to a slab then rinsing it off with water. This newly exposed marble is not polished and looks very dull compared to its polished surroundings. Etch marks on polished marble look much worse than on honed marble. What the acid has done is remove part of the surface of the marble and what is left behind is marble that was below the surface and is therefore unpolished unlike the rest of your marble.

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. Etching is a corrosive chemical reaction that essentially eats at the marble. 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. This product is made with reagent grade chemicals.

Take a scouring pad and move in a circular motion to hone the material. Acid stains such as by a toilet bowl cleaner or battery acid cause what is known as etching on marble. This is because the acid removes the surface material and exposes marble that was ordinary below the surface. 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.

When acidic substances come in contact with these stone types the acid actually begins to eat away at the surface which creates dull spots known as etching. Acid sensitive stones like marble limestone travertine and onyx are prone to etching. These stains can be difficult to remove but not impossible. For more information see our 7 facts about etching on marble.

Thats why it looks so dull compared to its beautiful surroundings. Please note that scratch marks from sample preparation will also become apparent.