Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
  • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
  • C23C22/00—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
  • C23C22/05—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions
  • C23C22/06—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6
  • C23C22/34—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides
  • C23C22/36—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides containing also phosphates
  • C23C22/364—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides containing also phosphates containing also manganese cations
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
  • C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
  • C23C22/00—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals
  • C23C22/05—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions
  • C23C22/06—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6
  • C23C22/34—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides
  • C23C22/36—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides containing also phosphates
  • C23C22/364—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides containing also phosphates containing also manganese cations
  • C23C22/365—Chemical surface treatment of metallic material by reaction of the surface with a reactive liquid, leaving reaction products of surface material in the coating, e.g. conversion coatings, passivation of metals using aqueous solutions using aqueous acidic solutions with pH less than 6 containing fluorides or complex fluorides containing also phosphates containing also manganese cations containing also zinc and nickel cations

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a process for phosphating a metal surface using an acidic aqueous phosphate solution. More particularly, it relates to a process for forming a phosphate film especially suitable for cationic electrocoating, and is particularly applicable to metal surfaces which include both an iron-based surface and a zinc-based surface such as an automobile body.
• Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 107784/1980 discloses a process for treating a metal surface by dip treatment, followed by spray treatment, with an acidic aqueous phosphate solution containing from 0.5 to 1.5 g/l of zinc ion, from 5 to 30 g/l of phosphate ion, and from 0.01 to 0.2 g/l of nitrite ion and/or from 0.05 to 2 g/l of m-nitrobenzenesulfonate ion.
• Said process is reported to be capable of providing a phosphate film which is effective for forming a coating by cationic-resistance on complicated articles having many pocket portions like car bodies.
• Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 145180/1980 discloses a process for treating a metal surface by spray treatment with an acidic aqueous phosphate solution containing from 0.4 to 1.0 g/l of zinc ion, from 5 to 40 g/l of phosphate ion, from 2.0 to 5.0 g/l of chlorate ion, and from 0.01 to 0.2 g/l of nitrite ion.
• Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 1512183/1980 discloses an acidic aqueous phosphate solution containing from 0.08 to 0.20 wt.
• a protective coating can be formed on steel or other metal surfaces at low temperatures, for instance below 40°C, by contact with a solution that is generally free of chlorate and chloride and that contains 0.5 to 1.5 parts silicofluoride or borofluoride, 0.8 to 2.5 parts zinc, 10 to 25 parts phosphate, 1.5 to 10 parts nitrate, 0.1 to 1.2 parts nickel and 0.25 to 2 parts sodium nitrobenzene sulfonate.
• the composition may also contain 0 to 0.7 parts manganese.
• each spot having a diameter of from 1 mm to 2 mm.
• These white spots will cause craters in subsequent treatment, thereby resulting in inferior coatings.
• the mechanism by which white spots are formed is believed to be as follows: In a first stage, there appear many pits, at the edge portions of which the galvanized layer is gradually dissolved in the form of concentric circles through an excessive etching reaction. As the growth of each pit continues, zinc phosphate is precipitated in the centre portion thereof. However, at the peripheral portions, the ion surface is exposed, which forms a galvanic cell with the zinc metal, thereby continuing the dissolution of the zinc.
• phosphating compositions which are chlorate-free or at least substantially chlorate-free and which have a chloride ion level below 0.5 g/l provide excellent phosphate-coatings on iron, zinc, and aluminium-based surfaces, without the formation of deleterious white spots. It is important to the beneficial results of the present invention that the chloride ion level be consistently maintained below 0.5 g/l, which means that not only the chloride ion itself, but also the chlorate ion should not be added to the phosphating compositions, since the chlorate ion will be reduced to the chloride ion as the phosphating composition is used.
• These phosphating compositions are the subject of European Patent Application no. 86306622.1 (granted as EP 0 228 151) from which the present application has been divided.
• a process for phosphating a metal surface comprising treating the metal surface with an acidic aqueous phosphate solution in which one establishes and maintains a concentration of at most 0.2 g/l and preferably no chlorate ion and wherein the chloride ion concentration is maintained below 0.5 g/l, said solution comprising:
• the metal surface treated in accordance with the present invention includes iron-based surface, zinc-based surfaces, aluminum-based surfaces, and their respective alloy-based surfaces. These metal surfaces can be treated either separately or in combination.
• the advantage of the present invention is most prominently exhibited when the treatment is carried out on metal surfaces which include both an iron-based surface and a zinc-based surface, as for example in a car body.
• zinc-based surfaces include galvanized steel plate, galvanealed steel plate, electrogalvanized steel plate, electro zinc-alloy plated steel plate, complex electrogalvanized steel plate, electro zinc-alloy plated steel plate, complex electrogalvanized steel plate, etc.
• the content of manganese ion is less then 0.2 g/l the manganese content in the phosphate film formed on zinc-based surfaces is very small; therefore the adhesion between the substrate and the coating after the cationic electrocoating becomes insufficient.
• the manganese ion is present in an amount of more than 4 g/l, no further beneficial effects are obtained for the coating, and the solution forms excessive precipitates, making it impossible to obtain a stable solution.
• the manganese content in the phosphate film formed on the metal substrates would be in the range of from about 1 to about 20% by weight, based on the weight of the film, in order to have a phosphate film which exhibits the performance requirements for cationic electrocoating.
• the phosphate film containing the amount of manganese specified above also forms part of the present invention.
• the manganese content can be calculated from the formula (W M /W C ) x 100 %.
• the amount of fluoride ion in the phosphating solution is less than 0.05 g/l, micronization of the phosphate film, improvement of corrosion-resistance after coating, and phosphating treatment at a reduced temperature cannot be attained.
• the fluoride ion can be present in an amount above 3 g/l, but use thereof in such quantities will not provide any greater effects than are obtainable by the phosphating solutions of the invention.
• the fluoride ion is contained in the form of a complex fluoride ion, e.g. the fluoroborate ion or the fluorosilicate ion, although the F - ion itself can also be used.
• the weight ratio of zinc ion to phosphate be 1 : (10 to 30). In this ratio an even phosphate film is obtained which exhibits all of the performance requirements needed for cationic electrocoating.
• the weight ratio of zinc ion to manganese ion is preferably 1 : (0.5 to 2). In this ratio it is possible to obtain in an economic manner a phosphate film which contains the required amount of manganese and which displays all of the beneficial effects provided by the present invention.
• the solutions used in the process of the invention it is desirable for the solutions to have a total acidity of 10 to 50 points, a free acidity of 0.3 to 2.0 points, and an acid ratio of 10 to 50.
• the total acidity in the above range the phosphate film can be obtained economically, and with the free acidity in the above range the phosphate film can be obtained evenly without excessive etching of the metal surface.
• Adjustments in the solution to obtain and maintain the above points and ratio can be achieved by use of an alkali metal hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide as required.
• Sources of the ingredients of the phosphating solutions used in the process of the invention include the following: as to the zinc ion, one can use zinc oxide, zinc carbonate, zinc nitrate, etc.; as to the phosphate ion, one can use phosphoric acid, zinc phosphate, zinc monohydrogen phosphate, zinc dihydrogen phosphate, manganese phosphate, manganese monohydrogen phosphate, manganese dihydrogen phosphate, etc.; as to the manganese ion, one can use manganese carbonate, manganese nitrate, the above-mentioned manganese phosphate compounds, etc.; as to the fluoride ion, one can use hydrofluoric acid, fluoroboric acid, fluorosilicic acid, fluorotitanic acid, and their metal salts (e.g.
• the sodium salt is excluded as it does not produce the desired effect
• the phosphating accelerator one can use sodium nitrite, ammonium nitrite, sodium m-nitrobenzenesulfonate, sodium m-nitrobenzoate, aqueous hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, zinc nitrate, manganese nitrate, nickel nitrate, etc..
• the phosphating solutions used in the process of the invention can further contain, as an optional ingredient, nickel ion.
• the content of the nickel ion should be from 0.1 to 4 g/l, preferably from 0.3 to 2 g/l.
• performance of the resulting phosphate film is further improved, i.e. the adhesion and corrosion-resistance of the coating obtained after cationic electrocoating are further improved.
• the weight ratio of zinc ion to the sum of the manganese ion and the nickel ion is desirably 1 : (0.5 to 5.0), preferably 1 : (0.8 to 2.5).
• the supply source of nickel ion can be for example nickel carbonate, nickel nitrate, nickel phosphate, etc..
• the phosphate film formed by the process of the present invention is a zinc phosphate-type film.
• Such films formed on iron based metal surfaces contain from about 25 to about 40 wt. % of zinc, from about 3 to about 11 wt. % of iron, from about 1 to about 20 wt. % of manganese, and from 0 to about 4 wt. % of nickel.
• the process of the present invention for phosphating metal surfaces can be carried out using the phosphating solutions by spray treatment, dip treatment, or by a combination of such treatments.
• Spray treatment can usually be effected by spraying for 5 or more seconds in order to form an adequate phosphate film which exhibits the desired performance characteristics.
• Spray treatment can be conveniently carried out using a cycle comprising first a spray treatment for about 5 to about 30 seconds, followed by discontinuing the treatment for about 5 to 30 seconds, and then spray treating again for at least 5 seconds, with a total spray treatment time of at least 40 seconds. This cycle can be carried out once, twice or three times.
• Dip treatment is usually more to be preferred than spray treatment in the process of the present invention.
• the dip treatment is usually effected for at least 15 seconds, preferably for about 30 to about 120 seconds.
• treatment can be carried out by first dip treating for at least 15 seconds and then spray treating for at least 2 seconds.
• the treatment can be effected by first spray treating for at least 5 seconds, and then dip treating for at least 15 seconds.
• the former combination of first dip treating and then spray treating is especially advantageous for articles having complicated shapes like a car body. For such articles, it is preferable to first carry out a dip treatment for from 30 to 90 seconds, and then carry out the spray treatment for from 5 to 45 seconds. In this process, it is advantageous to effect the spray treatment for as long a time as possible within the limitations of the automotive production line, in order to remove the sludge which adheres to the article during the dip treatment stage.
• the treating temperature can be from 30 to 70°C, preferably from 35 to 60°C. This temperature range is approximately 10 to 15°C lower than that which is used in the prior art processes. Treating temperatures below 30°C should not be used due to an unacceptable increase in the time required to produce an acceptable coating. Conversely, when the treating temperature is too high, the phosphating accelerator is decomposed and excess precipitate is formed causing the components in the solution to become unbalanced and making it difficult to obtain satisfactory phosphate films.
• a convenient spray pressure is from 0.6 to 2 Kg/cm 2 G.
• a preferred mode of treatment in the process of the present invention is a dip treatment or a combined treatment using a dip treatment first and then a spray treatment.
• a metal surface is first subjected to a spray treatment and/or a dip treatment with an alkaline degreasing agent at a temperature of 50 to 60°C for 2 minutes; followed by washing with tap water; spray treatment and/or dip treatment with a surface conditioner at room temperature for 10 to 30 seconds; dip treatment with the solution of the present invention at a temperature of about 30 to about 70°C for at least 15 seconds; and washing with tap water and then with deionized water, in that order. Thereafter, it is desirable to after-treat with an acidulated rinse common to the industry such as a dilute chromate solution.
• This after-treatment is preferably adopted even when the present invention is carried out by spray treatment or by a combined treatment comprising a spray treatment, followed by a dip treatment. By introducing this after-treatment, a phosphate film which gives greater corrosion-resistance to a siccative coating can be obtained.
• an acidic aqueous phosphate solution of the present invention comprising:
• concentrated aqueous compositions are employed for formulating the acidic aqueous phosphate solutions used in the process of the present invention.
• the acidic aqueous treating solutions are conveniently prepared by diluting an aqueous concentrate which contains a number of the solution ingredients in proper weight ratios, and then adding other ingredients as needed to prepare the treating solutions.
• the concentrates are advantageously formulated to contain zinc ion, phosphate ion, manganese ion, fluoride ion, and optionally nickel ion, in a weight proportion of 0.1 to 2 : 5 to 50 : 0.2 to 4 : at least 0.05 : 0.1 to 4.
• the concentrates preferably contain a weight proportion of the above ingredients of 0.5 to 1.5 : 10 to 30 : 0.1 to 3 : 0.3 to 2.
• the concentrates are preferably formulated to contain at least about 25 g/l, more preferably from about 50 g/l to 130 g/l of zinc ion.
• care must be taken in forming the concentrates. For example, when manganese ion and complex fluoride ion are present together in a concentrate with sodium ion, a precipitate is formed. Also, it is not advisable to add any phosphating accelerator to the concentrate, since the accelerators tend to decompose and cause other problems.
• a concentrated composition comprising 3.0 wt. % of zinc oxide, 1.8 wt. % of nickel carbonate (II), 48.2 wt. % of 75 % phosphoric acid, 10.0 wt. % of manganese nitrate (II) hydrate (20 wt. % manganese content), 7.9 wt. % of 40 % fluorosilicic acid, and 29.1 wt. % of water.
• This concentrate is then diluted with water to 2.5 vol. %, followed by the addition of an aqueous solution of 20 % sodium nitrite to give an acidic phosphating solution of the invention.
• Example 1 contained a small quantity of chlorate ion (0.2 g/l) which did not deleteriously affect the results obtained using the fresh bath, it is not recommended that the composition of Example 1 be employed commercially since maintaining even this low chlorate level in the bath as the bath continues to be used will eventually result in the reduction of sufficient chlorate ion to elevate the chloride ion above 0.5 g/l.
• the solution employed in the process preferably contains not more than about 0.2 g/l of chlorate ion. It is especially preferred that the solution contains no chlorate.
• the present invention is advantageous in avoiding white spots, especially on galvanized steel, particularly when the phosphating treatment comprises dipping.
• the solution contains at least about 1.05 g/l, especially at least about 1.1 g/l of zinc ion, for instance from about 1.05 to about 1.5 g/l of zinc ion, especially when the phosphating treatment comprises dipping.
• the solution employed contains at least about 15 g/l of phosphate ion, for instance from about 15 to about 50 g/l, especially from about 15 to about 30 g/l, of phosphate ion.
• the solution employed contains more than about 4.0 g/l, especially more than about 5 g/l, of nitrate ion.
• the solution may contain from about 5 to about 15 g/l, especially from about 5 to about 10 g/l, on nitrate ion
• the solution employed contains from about 0.3 g/l, especially more than about 0.4 g/l, of nickel ion.
• the solution may contain from about 0.4 to about 4 g/l, especially from about 0.4 to about 2 g/l, of nickel ion.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Chemical Treatment Of Metals (AREA)
• Aftertreatments Of Artificial And Natural Stones (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)

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• 1986
  • 1986-08-27 SG SG1996007305A patent/SG52645A1/en unknown
  • 1986-08-27 DE DE3689442T patent/DE3689442T2/de not_active Revoked
  • 1986-08-27 AT AT93200125T patent/ATE160592T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1986-08-27 EP EP93200125A patent/EP0544650B1/en not_active Revoked
  • 1986-08-27 DE DE3650659T patent/DE3650659T2/de not_active Revoked
  • 1986-08-27 EP EP86306622A patent/EP0228151B1/en not_active Revoked
  • 1986-08-27 AT AT86306622T patent/ATE99002T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1998
  • 1998-06-26 HK HK98106842A patent/HK1007771A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-12-18 HK HK98113999A patent/HK1012681A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

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