A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method for forming a multilayer coating film, the method being capable of achieving excellent finished appearance and excellent corrosion resistance without affecting electrodeposition coatability even when a part or all of the water-washing step is omitted after chemical conversion treatment, and to provide a coated article. The invention provides a method for forming a multilayer coating film, comprising forming a chemical conversion coating film and an electrodeposition coating film on a metal substrate by Step 1 of immersing a metal substrate in a chemical conversion treatment solution to form a chemical conversion coating film, and Step 2 of omitting a part or all of the water-washing step, and performing electrodeposition coating on the metal substrate using a cationic electrodeposition coating composition to form an electrodeposition coating film, wherein when the electrodeposition coating is performed in Step 2, the solution adhered to and/or deposited on the metal substrate has an electrical conductivity of less than 10,000 S/cm.

Described herein is an aqueous, chromium-free composition for a pretreatment of aluminum surfaces, which includes at least one water-soluble phosphorus compound, at least one water-soluble zirconium compound, at least one water-soluble titanium compound, and at least one water-soluble molybdenum compound, a phosphorus compound content being in a range from 15 to 50 mg/l (calculated as phosphorus), a zirconium compound content being in a range from 400 to 600 mg/l (calculated as metal), a titanium compound content being in a range from 85 to 400 mg/l (calculated as metal), and a molybdenum compound content being in a range from 40 to 150 mg/l (calculated as metal). Also described herein are a corresponding method and a correspondingly pretreated component or strip.

The invention relates to a method for zinc phosphating components so as to form layers, said components comprising surfaces made of steel with a high tolerance against aluminum dissolved in the zinc phosphating bath, wherein the precipitation of poorly soluble aluminum salts can be largely prevented. In the method, a process is used of activating the zinc surfaces by means of dispersions containing particulate hopeite, phosphophyllite, scholzite, and/or hureaulite, wherein the proportion of particulate phosphates in the activation process must be adapted to the quantity of free fluoride and dissolved aluminum in the zinc phosphation.

The invention relates to a method for zinc phosphating components comprising surfaces made of zinc in order to suppress the formation of insoluble phosphation constituents removably adhered to the zinc surfaces and thus further improve the adhesion of dip-paint coatings applied later. In the method, a process is used of activating the zinc surfaces by means of dispersions containing particulate hopeite, phosphophyllite, scholzite, and/or hureaulite, wherein the proportion of particulate phosphates in the activation process must be adapted to the quantity of free fluoride and dissolved silicon in the zinc phosphation.

A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. A solder is plated on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements while on the mandrel. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements. The solder on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements is not blackened.

A surface-treated metal material includes a metal sheet, a plating layer formed on the metal sheet and containing aluminum, magnesium, and zinc, and a composite coating formed on a surface of the plating layer, the composite coating including an organic silicon compound, one or two of a zirconium compound and a titanium compound, a phosphoric acid compound, a fluorine compound, and a vanadium compound, wherein, when a surface of the composite coating is analyzed at a spot size of ?30 ?m using micro-fluorescent X-rays, a maximum value of V/Zn, which is a mass ratio of a V content to a Zn content, is 0.010 to 0.100.

A surface-treated metal material includes a metal sheet, a plating layer formed on the metal sheet and containing aluminum, magnesium, and zinc, and a composite coating formed on a surface of the plating layer, the composite coating including an organic silicon compound, one or two of a zirconium compound and a titanium compound, a phosphoric acid compound, a fluorine compound, and a vanadium compound, wherein, when a surface of the composite coating is analyzed at a spot size of ?30 ?m using micro-fluorescent X-rays, a maximum value of V/Zn, which is a mass ratio of a V content to a Zn content, is 0.010 to 0.100.

An apparatus for the implementation of a process for the continuous manufacturing of steel strips for packaging coated with a passivation layer is provided. An apparatus contains a transfer roller; a coating roller contacting the transfer roller, a surface of the coating roller having a plurality of hexagonally shaped cells with a line count being from 50 to 200 lines per centimeter and a volume being from 5.Math.10.sup.?6 to 10.Math.10.sup.?6 m.sup.3 per square meter of the coating roller surface; and a tank containing an aqueous passivation solution, the tank providing the aqueous passivation solution to the coating roller.

Provided is a chemical treatment steel sheet including a steel sheet; a composite coated layer which is formed on at least one surface of the steel sheet, and contains 2 to 200 mg/m.sup.2 of Ni in terms of an amount of metal Ni and 0.1 to 10 g/m.sup.2 of Sn in terms of an amount of metal Sn, and in which an island-shaped Sn coated layer is formed on an FeNiSn alloy layer; and a chemical treatment layer that is formed on the composite coated layer, and contains a 0.01 to 0.1 mg/m.sup.2 of Zr compounds in terms of an amount of metal Zr and 0.01 to 5 mg/m.sup.2 of phosphate compounds in terms of an amount of P.

A process for continuous manufacturing of steel strips for packaging coated with a passivation layer is provided. The layer is an aqueous passivation solution, the thickness of which is less than 3 ?m and the viscosity of which is less than 1.5.Math.10.sup.?3 Pa.Math.s at 20? C., and is deposited on one of the faces of the strip. This depositing is carried out by a transfer roller in contact with the strip and with a second coating roller, the surface of which has a plurality of hexagonally shaped cells, the line count of which is between 50 and 200 lines per centimeter, and the total volume of which is between 5.Math.10.sup.?6 and 10.Math.10.sup.?6 m.sup.3 per square meter of roller surface. The coating roller is fed with aqueous passivation solution by dipping in a tank equipped with wiping means and the strip runs at a speed greater than or equal to 400 m/m. An apparatus for implementation of the process is also provided.