Zn-ZrO2 nanocomposite coatings: Elecrodeposition and evaluation of corrosion resistance

► The Zn and Zn-ZrO2 composite coatings were produced by electrodeposition technique using sulphate bath ► The ZrO2 nanoparticles have been selected for generating and investigating the corrosion behavior of Zn-ZrO2 composite coating ► The ZrO2 particle size distribution in the plating bath and Zeta potential and the ZrO2 were measured using dynamic light scattering technique (DLS) ► The corrosion resistance properties of Zn and Zn-ZrO2 composite coatings were compared by examining the experimental data acquired through polarization, open circuit potential (OCP) and Tafel measurements ► The corrosion environment was 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. The results were analyzed to establish the superiority of Zn-ZrO2 composite over Zn coating.