Hydrophilicizing treatment for metal objects

A process of hydrophilicizing a metal surface, said surface optionally bearing a pre-existing conversion coating, said process comprising contacting the metal surface for a time within the range from about 5 to about 600 seconds at a temperature within the range from about 10.degree. to about 90.degree. C. with a hydrophilicizing composition consisting essentially of water and:

• (A) from about 1 to about 300 g/L, measured as dissolved solids, of a component selected from the group of water soluble polymers and copolymers of acrylic and methacrylic acids and salts thereof;
• (B) from about 1 to about 300 g/L of a component of water soluble polyether molecules conforming to the general formula:
• R.sup.1 --(--O--).sub.p --(C.sub.n H.sub.2n O).sub.q --R.sup.2,
• where each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently is H or an alkyl moiety containing not more than 4, preferably not more than 3, more preferably not more than 2, or most preferably only 1, carbon atom;
• p is either 0 or 1;
• n is an integer from 2 to 4 inclusive, preferably 2 or 3, most preferably 2, and the value of n may be selected independently for each of the q groups present in the polymer molecule;
• and q is an integer with a value of at least 2;
• and
• (C) from about 5 to about 200, g/L of a component of water soluble alkali metal silicates;
• and, optionally,
• (D) an anti-microbial effective amount of a anti-microbial agent;
• and, optionally,
• (E) from about 2 to about 100 g/L of a component of water soluble non-silicate alkalinizing agents.