Electrodepositable coating composition comprising a bismuth salt and a stabilizing compound

1. An electrodepositable coating composition comprising an ionic film-forming polymer, a bismuth salt, and a stabilizing agent comprising 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, or combinations thereof; and wherein the molar ratio of elemental bismuth to the stabilizing agent is 1:0.27, 1:0.28 or from 1:0.001 to 1:0.25.

2. The electrodepositable coating composition according to claim 1 , wherein the bismuth salt is the reaction product of a bismuth compound and an acid compound.

3. The electrodepositable coating composition according to claim 2 , wherein the acid compound comprises sulfamic acid, methane sulfonic acid, or combinations thereof.

4. The electrodepositable coating composition according to claim 2 , wherein the bismuth compound comprise bismuth oxide, bismuth hydroxide, or combinations thereof.

5. The electrodepositable coating composition according to claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of elemental bismuth to the stabilizing agent ranges from 1:0.01 to 1:0.10.

6. A substrate at least partially coated with the coating composition of claim 1 .

7. The substrate according to claim 6 , wherein the substrate pretreated prior to being coated with the coating composition of claim 1 .

8. The electrodepositable coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the ionic film-forming polymer comprises cationic salt groups.

9. The electrodepositable coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the ionic film-forming polymer comprises reactive functional groups and the electrodepositable coating composition further comprises a curing agent that is reactive towards the ionic film-forming polymer.

10. A method for making an electrodepositable coating composition comprising: (i) a first component, (ii) a second component, and (iii) a third component; the method comprising:

dispersing components (i), (ii), and (iii), into an aqueous solution; wherein component (i) comprises an ionic film-forming polymer, a curing agent that is capable of reacting with the film-forming polymer, and, optionally, a stabilizing agent; wherein component (ii) comprises a water-dispersible grind resin, a pigment, and, optionally, a stabilizing agent; and wherein component (iii) comprises a water-dispersible grind resin, and, optionally, a stabilizing agent; wherein one or more of components (i), (ii), and (iii) comprises a bismuth salt; wherein one or more of components (i), (ii), and (iii) comprises the stabilizing agent, said stabilizing agent comprising 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, or combinations thereof; and wherein the molar ratio of elemental bismuth to the stabilizing agent in the electrodepositable coating is 1:0.27, 1:0.28 or from 1:0.001 to 1:0.25.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the (iii) third component comprises a bismuth salt.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the bismuth salt is the reaction product of a bismuth compound and an acid compound.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the bismuth compound comprises bismuth oxide, bismuth hydroxide, or combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the acid compound comprises sulfamic acid, methane sulfonic acid, or combinations thereof.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first component is subjected to mechanical grinding prior to being dispersed in the aqueous solution.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the stabilizing agent is only present in the first component.

17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the stabilizing agent is only present in the second component.

18. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the stabilizing agent is only present in the third component.