Abstract: Copolymers ABCDE obtainable by polymerising a monomer mixture comprising olefinically unsaturated monomers A having at least one urethane group —O—CO—NH—, basic (meth)acrylic monomers B which comprise at least one tertiary amino group, alkyl(meth)acrylates C, wherein the alkyl residue is linear, branched, or cyclic, and may have from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, olefinically unsaturated compounds D having at least one hydroxyl group in the molecule, preferably hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylates, olefinically unsaturated compounds E having none of the functional groups of monomers A and C, and no acid groups, which are neutralised to an extent of from 10% to 100% and dispersed in water, and a method of use thereof as paste resins

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for producing preparations containing bismuth salts, wherein bismuth oxide is reacted in a specific way with lactic acid and the resulting mixture of bismuthyl lactate and bismuth lactate is dispersed in a binder. These preparations are used as catalytic components in electrophoretic paints to be applied by cathodic deposition. Dipping paints of this kind have excellent application and film properties. This obviates the need to use lead and tin compounds as catalysts.