Water-based hybrid zinc phosphate-polymer miniemulsion as anticorrosive coating

► Synthetic route devised for water-based zinc phosphate-polymer miniemulsion. ► Autodeposition carried out from miniemulsion on cold rolled steel substrates. ► Salt spray test results show hybrid particle possesses anticorrosion properties. ► Investigation of film cross section using SEM and EDX suggests mechanism. ► Mechanism dependent on zinc phosphate mobility at high temperatures across film.