Method for coating metal surfaces with a phosphate layer and then with a polymer lubricant layer

A process for the preparation of metallic workpiece comprising:

• forming a phosphate layer on the surface of the metallic workpiece by contacting a surface of the metallic workpiece with an aqueous acidic phosphatizing solution;
• subsequently applying a lubricant layer coating to the phosphate layer on the surface of the workpiece;
• wherein the lubricant layer comprises water glass, an amine and a substantial content of organic polymeric material,
• wherein the aqueous acidic phosphatizing solution comprises phosphate and a content of calcium, magnesium or manganese;
• and
• wherein the organic polymeric material comprises an ionomer which comprises a member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, an epoxide, an ethylene, a polyamide, a propylene, a styrene, and a urethane, or an ester thereof or a salt thereof,
• wherein at least one of the ionomer and the non-ionomer is at least partly saponified or is an organic salt;
• wherein the ionomer is an ionomeric copolymer;
• wherein the lubricant composition further comprises a non-ionic organic polymeric component selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, an amide, an amine, an aramid, an epoxide, an ethylene, an imide, a polyester, a propylene, a styrene and a urethane;
• wherein the amine is selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine and a tertiary amine;
• and
• wherein the lubricant layer comprises less than 0.5 wt. % soap based on the total weight of the lubricant layer.