LAUSR

Pure tetragonal 10–20-nm-size zirconia-based Ni–P composite coating was developed. The physicochemical and electrochemical characteristics including corrosion resistance of the coating were investigated. The Ni–P–nano-tetragonal zirconia coating was partially crystalline having face-centered cubic phase. The coating had very high corrosion resistance due to its dense compact morphology and low surface roughness. The Ni–P–nano-tetragonal zirconia coatings exhibited a cathodic shift of open-circuit potential (OCP) in the range from − 0.340 to − 0.520 V. A high polarization resistance of the order of 13.2 kΩ/cm2 and low corrosion current density of 3.9 µA/cm2 were achieved due to the effective incorporation of zirconia into the coating.