Steel and zinc surfaces were exposed to the action of an electric discharge in a gaseous discharge containing radioactive inert gas. During the discharge atoms of the radioactive gas are ionized, electrostatically accelerated, and deposited beneath the surface where they are retained in a layer approximates 1 mg/cm/sup 2/. This technique was used in the study of the corrosion inhibition of chromic ion films on steel and zinc. (W.D.M.)