Aqueous coating of silane precursor from epoxy and amino trialkoxysilanes

A process for producing an aqueous composition capable of being applied to a metal surface to form a corrosion resistant coating strongly bonded thereto, comprising:

• anhydrously reacting an epoxy trialkoxy silane with a primary amino trialkoxy silane in relative stoichiometric amounts providing one epoxy group for reaction with each primary amino hydrogen site, said reaction occurring for a period of approximately twenty-four hours at room temperature and under an inert gas atmosphere, whereby a hydrolyzable silane polymer precursor is formed;
• adding said silane polymer precursor to an aqueous vehicle, said aqueous vehicle comprising an amount of a high vapor pressure organic acid sufficient to provide a pH of between about 4.5 and 6.5 to said aqueous vehicle, whereby said silane polymer precursor is solubilized in said aqueous vehicle;
• adding a silicone-base wetting agent to said aqueous vehicle in a concentration of between about 0.05% and 1.00% by weight, whereby said aqueous composition is formed,
• said solubilized silane polymer precursor being capable of being applied onto said metal surface and hydrolyzed thereon to form a silanol polymer precursor,
• said silanol polymer precursor being capable of being dehydrated on said metal surface, whereby said silanol polymer precursor is crosslinked and bonded to said metal surface, whereby further said corrosion-resistant coating strongly bonded to said metal surface is formed,
• said high vapor pressure organic acid evaporating during said crosslinking and bonding of said silanol polymer precursor.