Resource-saving method for zinc phosphating metal surfaces

The invention relates to a method for the zinc phosphating of a metal surface in a layered manner as an activation phase using a colloidal aqueous solution, in a method step after the activation, a zinc phosphate layer having a layer weight of less than 2.0 g/m2 is deposited on the zinc surface. The activation stage is based on a colloidal aqueous solution containing a dispersed particulate component comprising, in addition to a dispersed inorganic compound comprising a phosphate of a polyvalent metal cation, a polymeric organic compound as a dispersant, the polymeric organic compound consists at least partially of styrene and/or an alpha-olefin having no more than 5 carbon atoms, the polymeric organic compound further comprising units of maleic acid, anhydride thereof and/or imide thereof, and the polymeric organic compound further comprising polyoxyalkylene units. In order to form a closed zinc phosphate coating that can sufficiently prevent corrosion and can be supplied to a subsequent electrocoating, the