Process for cathodic electrodeposition of a clear coating over a conductive paint layer

An improved electrocoating process which comprises

• a. cathodically electrocoating onto a conductive substrate a layer of an electrically conductive cathodic electrocoating composition containing film forming binder and electrically conductive pigment in a pigment to binder weight ratio of about 1:100 to 100:100 and curing the layer to form a conductive layer;
• b. applying an intermediate conductive layer of an electrically conductive coating composition containing electrically conductive pigment and film forming binder and curing the intermediate layer and
• c. cathodically electrocoating onto the intermediate layer a layer of a clear cathodic electrocoating composition and curing the layer of clear composition to form a clear layer on the substrate;
• wherein the electrically conductive pigment used in the conductive cathodic electrocoating composition comprises
• silica which is either amorphous silica or a silica containing material, the silica is in association with a two-dimensional network of antimony-containing tin oxide crystallites in which the antimony content ranges from about 1-30% by weight of the tin oxides and provides the cured conductive layer with a resistance of less than 10.times.10.sup.15 ohms.