The present work aimed at studying electroless coating of nickel–phosphorus (Ni–P) onto boron carbide (B 4 C) particles with average particle sizes of 93 and 32μm. Prior to the coating process, B 4 C particle surfaces were sensitized using SnCl 2 and HCI solution and activated in PdCl 2 and HCl solutions. In the electroless coating bath, nickel sulphate (NiSO 4 ·6H 2 O), sodium hypophosphite (NaH 2 PO 2 ·H 2 O) and sodium citrate (Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 .5, 5H 2 O) were used as Ni 2+ source, reducing agent and complexing agent, respectively. The morphology and the chemical composition of the coating layers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Characterization results showed that B 4 C particle surfaces were successfully coated by a homogeneous and continuous Ni–P layer.