Black chrome-graphite encapsulated FeCo nanoparticles (BC-GEFeCo NPs) composite coatings were electrodeposited on substrates such as stainless steel, Cu, and Ni-coated Cu. The major content of the deposited film is contributed by Cr, Fe-Cr, Fe2AlCr, and FeCr0.29Ni0.16C0.06 as deduced from X-ray diffraction. The root-mean-square roughness value of black chrome on Ni-coated Cu employing PbSb anode is measured by atomic force microscopy (nanoindentation) studies as 57.176 nm, which is in satisfactory agreement with the literature value of 53.83 nm. With the addition of GEFeCo Nps, the root-mean-square roughness value for BC-GEFeCo composite coatings on Ni-coated Cu increases approximately 6.1 times that of black chrome surface. (C) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.