Diameter Fine austenite grains 0.02 to 0.06 mm.

Etchant untuk reveal Austenite Grain Boundaries adalah Picric Acid.

Several investigations report positive results etching quenched and tempered 4340
steel with a reagent of 100mL of saturated aqueous picric acid, 6 drops of HCl and 0.5%
of a suitable wetting agent (sodium alkylsulfonate, sodium tridecylbenzene
sulfonate or sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate). Modifikasi dari Vilellas Reagent.
The conclusion of the investigation states that the sodium tridecylbenzene sulfonate
wetting agent is most effective but is costly and has poor biodegradability. it is
suggested that the cheaper and readily biodegradable sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate
be used.