Hydrogen peroxide treatment of nickel surfaces for silicone rubber bonding

Claim 1

A HIGHLY CONTROLLABEL METHOD FOR TREATING NICKEL SURFACES BEFORE BONDING SILICONE RUBBER THERETO, THAT CONSISTENTLY AND RELIABLY ENHANCES ADHESION OF THE SILICONE RUBBER TO THE NICKEL SURFACES, WHICH METHOD INCLUDES USE OF A ROOM TEMPERATURE, LOW CONCENTRATION AQUEOUS HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION THAT IS INSENSITIVE TO PHOSPHATE ION CONTAMINATION UP TO 15 PARTS PER MILLION, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF IMMERSING SAID NICKEL SURFACE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY LEAD-FREE AND GENERALLY ROOM TEMPERATURE SOLUTION CONSITING ESSENTIALLY OF WATER AND ABOUT 10% - 20% BY WEIGHT HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, INTRODUCING INTO SAID AQUEOUS SOLUTION AT LEAST ONE METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF PURE LEAD AND LEAD ALLOYS IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE 0.5-20 PARTS LEAD ION PER MILLION PARTS SOLUTION TO INITIATE A MODERATE DECOMPOSITION OF SAID HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND AN ATTENDANT MODERATE REACTION WITH THE NICKEL SURFACE ON SAID BODIES, ALLOWING SAID DECOMPOSITION AND REACTION TO PROCEED UNTIL SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE HYDROGEN PEROXIDE HAS DECOMPOSED, RINSING SAID NICKEL SURFACES, AND DRYING THEM.