Composition and process for treating metal

A process comprising steps of:

• (I) providing a mixture consisting essentially of water and:
• (A) a dissolved component selected from the group consisting of H.sub.2l TiF.sub.6, H.sub.2 ZrF.sub.6, H.sub.2 HfF.sub.6, H.sub.2 SiF.sub.6, H.sub.2 GeF.sub.6, H.sub.2 SnF.sub.6, HBF.sub.4, and mixtures thereof and
• (B) a dissolved, dispersed, or both dissolved and dispersed component selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, and B, the oxides, hydroxides, and carbonates of Ti, Zr, Hf, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, and B, and mixtures of any two or more of these elements, oxides, hydroxides, and carbonates;
• (II) agitating the mixture provided in step (I) for at least a sufficient time at a sufficient temperature that the mixture is free from any visually observable evidence of phase separation and is sufficiently stable that it would remain free from any visually observable evidence of phase separation during storage at temperature in the range from 20.degree. to 25.degree. C. for a period of at least 100 hours;
• (III) mixing with the agitated mixture from the end of step (II) a component (C) selected from the group consisting of (1) water soluble and water dispersible polymers and copolymers of x-(N--R.sup.1 --N--R.sup.2 -aminomethyl)-4-hydroxy-styrenes, where x=2, 3, 5, or 6;
• R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms;
• and R.sup.2 represents a substituent group conforming to the general formula H(CHOH).sub.n --, where n is an integer from 3 to 8 and mixtures of any two or more therof;
• and (2) dissolved hexavalent chromium to form a mixture that is sufficiently stable that it would remain free from any visually observable evidence of phase separation during storage at temperature in the range from 20.degree. to 25.degree. C. for a period of at least 100 hours.