In this paper electroless coating on mild steel substrate and testing of the properties of the mild steel after coating were employed. Electroless Ni-P coating and composite coatings were obtained on the mild steel by adding CuSO4 and PVP (Poly vinyl pyrrolidone).The electroless Ni-P-Cu and Ni-P-Cu-PVP coatings were optimized using trial and error methods. The micro hardness and ultimate tensile strength of composite coatings were higher than that of uncoated samples. SEM and XRD techniques were used for surface morphological and structure of the electroless Ni-P particles and Ni-P-Cu-PVP particles in the coatings. Heat treatment of coated samples were found to improve the mechanical properties of the coatings in comparison with as plated substartes. © Research India Publications.