Galvanic function of zinc-rich coatings facilitated by percolating structure of the carbon nanotubes. Part I: Characterization of the nano-size particles

•Particles of pyrrole coated alumina/MWCNTs were prepared by in situ polymerization.•Higher reversibility and Coulombic efficiency are due to the greater MWCNT content.•Charge-delocalization in polypyrrole depends on proportion of the polyelectrolyte.•Flocculation led to various nano- and micron-scale distributions of the particles.•Statistical and kinetic percolations are available at high nanotube content.