Patent · US Expired

Method of increasing corrosion resistance of metals and alloys by treatment with rare earth elements

US6406562B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
8References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 2000
Grant dateJun 18, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 16, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC23C22/68
  • WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

There is provided a method for treating the surface of metals such as nickel based or high alloy steels, austenitic and ferritic stainless steels, copper and aluminum alloys to increase their corrosion resistance by modification of the metal surfaces to inhibit cathodic corrosion processes. In a single step treatment process the metals are immersed into a heated aqueous composition containing a rare earth salt substantially free of any halide compound. Increased corrosion resistance is obtained using nitrates of yttrium, gadolinium, cerium, europium, terbium, samarium, neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum, holmium, ytterbium, dysprosium, and erbium nitrates. The rare earth salt is present in the range from about 2% by weight to saturation of the solution. The composition includes a pH-modifying substance such as nitric acid to adjust the pH in the range 0.5 to about 6.5 to attack the surface to remove oxides facilitating deposition of the rare earth.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.