RESOURCE-SAVING METHOD FOR ACTIVATING A METAL SURFACE PRIOR TO A PHOSPHATIZATION PROCESS

A method for phosphating metal surfaces in a layer-forming manner using a colloidal aqueous solution as an activation stage containing a dispersed particulate constituent, the particulate constituent containing dispersed inorganic compounds of phosphates of polyvalent metal cations; plus polymeric organic compounds as dispersing agents, which are composed at least partially of styrene and/or an α-olefin having no more than 5 carbon atoms and are composed at least partially of maleic acid, its anhydride and/or its imide, the polymeric organic compounds additionally comprising polyoxyalkylene units. In the activation stage of the method according to the invention, the addition of condensed phosphates can be dispensed with such that the content of dissolved condensed phosphates in the colloidal aqueous solution is less than 0.25, based on the phosphate content in the particulate constituent thereof, in each case based on the element P.