In this study, a novel nanocomposite thin film of Zn–SiO2 is considered. The thin film is a viable alternative for higher abrasion-resistant coatings. DLS technique revealed that the nanoparticle size is to be below 10 nm, and FE-SEM showed particle size to be below 17 nm in the obtained coating. The coating was found to be highly adhesive with an amorphous structure and hardness value above 1000HV. Corrosion resistance studies using linear polarization technique revealed that this unique nanocomposite has a lower corrosion rate than hot-dip galvanized steel at higher positive potentials. A conclusive mechanism for corrosion and erosion improvement has been proposed.
Graphical Abstract