Method of forming protective coatings on iron articles

Claim 1

THE PROCESS OF FORMING A PROTECTIVE COATING ON AN IRON OBJECT WHICH COMPRISES IMMERSING SAID IRON OBJECT AS ONE ELECTRODE IN AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF AN ELECTROLYTE THE PH OF WHICH IS NOT LESS THAN FOUR AND WHEREIN THE CATIONS OF SAID ELECTROLYTE ARE SELECTED FROM GROUPS 1 AND 2 OF THE PERIODIC TABLE HAVING SPECIFIC GRAVITIES OF LESS THAN FOUR, IMMERSING ANOTHER CONDUCTOR IN SAID SOLUTION AS A SECOND ELECTRODE AT A DISTANCE APART FROM SAID FIRSTMENTIONED ELECTRODE, CONNECTING SAID ELECTRODES TO A SOURCE OF DIRECT CURRENT SUCH THAT SAID FIRST-MENTIONED ELECTRODE IS NEGATIVE AND SAID SECOND ELECTRODE IS POSITIVE, ALLOWING A DIRECT CURRENT TO FLOW BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRSTMENTIONED ELECTRODE IS ACTIVATED BY ELECTRICALLY RELEASED HYDROGEN, REVERSING THE POLARITY OF SAID ELECTRODES UNTIL A LAYER COMPOSED OF FERROUS AND FERRIC HYDROXIDES IS FORMED ON SAID IRON OBJECT AND CYCLICALLY REPEATING SAID TRODES FOR A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE SURFACE OF SAID FIRSTMENTIONED ELECTRODE IS ACTIVATED BY ELECTRTICALLY RELEASED LAYER OF MIXED HYDROXIDES TO FERRIC OXIDE, WHEREIN THE CATHODE-ANODE TIME RATIO IN RESPECT TO THE IRON OBJECT IS ABOUT 3:2.