Abstract: The process of providing protective coatings of refractory metals and alloys on to any metallic base such as: iron, aluminum, chromium, cobalt, copper, nickel, magnesium, tin, titanium, or on to any metallic alloy base such as: steels, cast irons, brasses, bronzes, and solders at temperatures as low as ambient or below, including selecting an electrolyte material capable of dissociation into ions, such that at 25.degree. C the equivalent conductance of 0.1 normal solution of electrolyte divided by that of the electrolyte solution at infinite dilution is between 0.13 and 0.93, providing a particulate refractory metal having a melting point of at least 1490.degree. C, to be deposited within the near-surface region of the base metal, admixing 99 to 50 percent by weight of said refractory metal and 1 to 50 percent by weight of said electrolyte, the refractory metal having a nascent surface capable of producing ions in solution, ionizing said refractory metal to a concentration of about 1 to 20,000 mg.