Abstract: A coating composition comprises a water dilutable dispersion of (a) the reaction product of an epoxy resin with a primary or secondary amine and (b) a polymer containing free carboxyl groups. The epoxy resin and amine are preferably reacted in an organic solvent and a solution of the reaction product is mixed with a solution of the carboxyl-containing polymer (b) in an amount sufficient to provide an excess of free carboxyl groups over the amine groups in the epoxy resin reaction product (a). The coating composition is preferably applied to a substrate in the form of an aqueous dispersion in which (a) and (b) are held in stable dispersion by a base such as ammonia or an amine.