Effects of surfactants on codeposition of PTFE particles with electroless Ni-P coating were investigated in this study. Dependence of the deposition rate of Ni-P matrix and PTFE particles on the surfactant concentration and the PTFE loading were reported. It indicates that the deposition behaviors of the Ni-P matrix and PTFE particles depends strongly on the weak adsorption of PTFE particles on the substrate, the reactivity of the surfactants (strong adsorption) and the surface coverage of the surfactant on the substrate. A theoretical model was proposed to provide a more deep insight into the codeposition. behaviors. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.