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Abstract

A process for treating the surface of a metal substrate comprising a constituent metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, Rh, Pb, Sn, Ni, Zn, in some cases Fe, and alloys of these metals. An anodic potential is applied to the metal surface in an electrolytic circuit comprising the metal surface, a cathode, and an electrolytic solution that is in contact with the metal surface and in electrically conductive communication with the cathode. The electrolytic solution may contain an electrolyte comprising anions of phosphate, phosphonate, phosphite, phosphinate, nitrate, borate, silicate, molybdate, tungstate, carboxylate, oxalate and combinations thereof. The anion may comprise a polymer having a pendent moiety selected from the group consisting of phosphate, phosphonate, phosphite, phosphinate, sulfate, sulfonate, carboxylate and combinations thereof. The potential applied to the circuit is such that the substrate is anodically oxidized and reacts with the anion to form a composition that imparts an enhanced property to the metal surface. Preferably, the pH of the electrolytic solution is less than about 6.0, the potential applied is between about 0.5 and about 20 volts, and the current density is between about 0.01 and 2 amps/dm² of the geometric surface area of metal in contact with the electrolytic solution and is controlled such that nascent cations of said constituent metal produced by anodic oxidation of said constituent metal react with said anions at the metal surface without significant formation of any oxide or hydroxide of said constituent metal.

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