This thesis describes the development and characterisation of a range of single-phase and composite coatings on stainless steel substrates using electrochemical processing routes. Electrodeposition and electro co-deposition have been applied to deposit Ni, Ni-Al2O3 and Ni-Al films. For electrodeposition of pure Ni the substrate preparation was critical: this was optimised by applying different mechanical and chemical treatments to increase the substrate/coating adhesion through a mechanical interlocking mechanism. The optimal conditions for Ni deposition from a nickel sulphate bath were then determined. Subsequently, A12O3 particles were added to the plating bath and the influence of the process variables (current density, A1203 particle concentration and size) on the amount of Al2O3 co-deposited with Ni was studied. The addition of A12O3 modified both the microstructure and the crystallinity of the Ni matrix and increased the coating micro-hardness compared to pure Ni