Coating composition and method for the treatment of formed metal surfaces

A method for treating an aluminum or aluminum alloy surface, the method comprising applying an aqueous, acidic composition comprising about 56 ppm hydrofluozirconic acid, about 6 ppm hydrofluosilicic acid, about 52 ppm hydrofluoric acid, about 175 pm nitric acid, about 185 ppm phosphate acid ester, and 63 ppm polyethylene glycol ester of fatty acid, about 20 ppm phosphoric acid, about 3 ppm water conditioner, and about 30 ppm ammonium hydroxide, pH from about 2.5 to about 4.0, and which, upon application for about 10 seconds to about 60 seconds results in an aluminum or aluminum alloy surface carbon to oxygen ratio between 0.35 and about 0.41.

A method of enhancing the mobility of a surface of an aluminum can or an aluminum alloy can, the method comprising applying an aqueous, acidic composition to the aluminum can or aluminum alloy surface of the can, the composition comprising a source of zirconium ions, a source of fluoride ions, a source of phosphate ions, a phosphate acid ester, a polyethylene glycol ester of a fatty acid, and nitric acid to said aluminum and aluminum alloy surfaces, wherein the concentration of zirconium ions is from about 10 ppm to about 100 ppm, the concentration of fluoride ions is from about 20 ppm to about 200 ppm, and the concentration of the phosphate ions is from about 5 to about 75 ppm.