Electrodeposition baths containing yttrium

In an electrodeposition bath, said electrodeposition bath comprising a resinous phase dispersed in an aqueous medium, said resinous phase comprising:

• (a) an active hydrogen group-containing ionic electrodepositable resin, and
• (b) a curing agent having functional groups reactive with the active hydrogen groups of (a),
• the improvement comprising an electrodeposition bath containing at least one soluble yttrium compound present in an amount from about 10 parts per million to about 10.000 parts per million of yttrium, based on electrodeposition bath weight.

A method of electrocoating a conductive substrate serving as a charged electrode in an electrical circuit comprising said electrode and an oppositely charged counter electrode, said electrodes being immersed in an aqueous electrocoating composition, comprising passing electric current between said electrodes to cause deposition of the electrocoating composition on the substrate as a substantially continuous film, the aqueous electrocoating composition comprising:

• (a) an active hydrogen group-containing ionic electrodepositable resin, and
• (b) a curing agent having functional groups reactive with the active hydrogen groups of (a),
• wherein the improvement comprises an electrodeposition bath containing at least one soluble yttrium compound present in an amount about 10 parts per million to about 10,000 parts per million of total, based on electrodeposition bath weight.