Copper coatings on fine nickel powder was achieved by autocatalytic deposition using glyoxylic acid as reducing agent. Activation of the Nickel powder was done by using titanium diborate solution and chloro platinic acid. The deposition of the copper particles is carried out by electroless coating. The mechanism and composition of the coating was studied for copper coated Ni-Al powders. The coatings were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The Copper coatings have reduced the dissolution of Ni-Al powders greatly in alkaline media. The resultant product formed is recommended for relevant Industrial purposes. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd.