Temperature-based method for controlling the amount of metal applied to metal oxide surfaces to reduce corrosion and stress corrosion cracking

A method for improving the corrosion resistance of an alloy surface having an oxide film thereon, comprising the step of immersing said alloy surface in water at a temperature within the range of 340° to 360° F. in which a compound containing a metal is dissolved, said metal having the property of increasing the corrosion resistance of said alloy when incorporated in said oxide film, said compound having the property that it decomposes in said water to release atoms of said metal which incorporate in said oxide film.

A method for controlling the deposit ratio of different noble metals from a mixture of said noble metals on a metal surface carrying an oxide film, comprising the steps of immersing said metal surface in water at a temperature within the range of 340° to 360° F. and introducing a mixture of compounds containing said different noble metals, said compounds each having the property of decomposing in said water to release atoms of said different noble metals which incorporate in said oxide film at a desired deposit ratio.

A method for controlling the amount of metal atoms deposited into an oxide film present on a metal surface, which metal atoms increase the corrosion resistance of metal when present in the oxide film, said method comprising the steps of:

• submerging the metal surface in water at a selected temperature within the range of about 340° to 360° F.;
• and
• injecting a solution of a compound containing the metal which increases the corrosion resistance of the metal surface when present in the oxide film, said compound decomposing at said selected temperature to release atoms of the metal which incorporate in the oxide film, whereby the amount of metal atoms deposited into said oxide layer exhibits a peak in said temperature range.