Influence of ZrO2 incorporation into coating layer on electrochemical response of low-carbon steel processed by electrochemical plasma coating

This study investigated the effect of the incorporation of ZrO2 particles on the electrochemical response of low-carbon steel processed by electrochemical plasma coating (EPC). The EPC process was carried out in an alkaline electrolyte with and without ZrO2 particles under AC condition. The structure and constituent phases of the EPC-treated samples were analyzed through SEM and XRD. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses of the coating layer with ZrO2 particles were performed in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution to evaluate the electrochemical behavior in comparison to that without ZrO2 particles. The corrosion resistance of the EPC-treated sample incorporating ZrO2 particles was explained in relation to the equivalent circuit model.