Electroconductive aqueous coating compositions, process, and coated substrates

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an aqueous electroconductive composition which is particularly useful as a coating composition for non-porous substrates. The aqueous compositions comprise (A) at least one water-dispersible or emulsifiable film-forming resin; (B) at least one electrically conductive polymer of a quaternary ammonium compound containing at least one polymerizable unsaturated group; (C) at least one hydrocarbon-soluble substituted imidazoline of a fatty acid; (D) at least one volatile organic liquid; and (E) water. In one embodiment, the aqueous electroconductive compositions are in the form of oil-in-water emulsions. The invention also relates to the use of such electroconductive coating compositions as adherent primer coatings for substrates, and in particular, non-porous substrates. Electroconductive coating compositions for depositing coatings on non-porous substrates which do not contain the substituted imidazoline (C) also are described.