Comparison of the coating properties and corrosion rates in electroless Ni–P/PTFE composites prepared by different types of surfactants

► Effects of different types of surfactants (cationic, anionic, non-ionic) on the surface morphology and deposition rate of electroless Ni–P/PTFE coatings were investigated. ► For CTAB and PVP, there is an optimum amount of surfactant at which the PTFE content in the electroless Ni–P coating is the highest. ► CTAB was the most effective surfactant for dispersing the PTFE particles in the Ni–P matrix. ► The addition of PTFE to the Ni–P matrix improved the corrosion properties. ► The Ni–P/PTFE specimen prepared by CTAB exhibited the highest corrosion resistance while SDS was found to be the least effective. The effects of the addition of three types of surfactants (cationic, anionic, non-ionic) at different concentrations in the plating bath on the deposition rate, PTFE content and surface morphology of electroless Ni–P/PTFE composite coatings were investigated. It was demonstrated that the cationic and non-ionic surfactants created a uniform distribution of PTFE particles in the coatings. The effects of the surfactant type and concentration on the corrosion properties of Ni–P/PTFE coatings were also studied. The corrosion resistance was increased by the incorporation of PTFE particles into the Ni–P matrix. The level of improvement depended largely on the type and concentration of the applied surfactants.