## 1 Introduction  
Electrodeposition is one of the most commercially successful and inexpensive superior techniques for fabrication of metallic coatings. However, the conventional electrodeposition methods are very simple, since it has only one phase throughout the process. The pure electroplated metals are difficult to satisfy the current requirements, due to their plastic deformation. In order to resolve this problem, the method of co-deposition insoluble solid particles in metal matrix was established and recognized for fabrication the composite coatings. The reinforcing particles, suspending in the electrolyte, are entrapped and incorporated into the metal matrix by adopting suitable methods during the co-deposition process, such as electrophoresis, adsorption or mechanical entrapment [1]. In 1928, [PERSON] et al. [2] introduced the co-deposition method to produce Cu/graphite composite coatings that applied in car engines for the first time. Besides, the first patent of co-deposition was issued by [PERSON], in 1962 [3]. Since then, considerable researches have been focused on different types of composites fabricated by the co-deposition method. These composites include ceramics, metals, polymer or microcapsule/liquid incorporated into metal matrices, which could improve the coating properties as mechanical strength, wear/friction-resistance, high-temperature oxidation-resistant and corrosion-resistance [4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15]. Based on the SiCw with features in high modulus and tensile strength, good wear resistance, as well as dimensional stability, recently, we have successfully synthesized high mechanical strength Ni/SiC_w_ composites by electrodeposition. Since the performance of composite coatings is highly sensitive to external conditions during the co-deposition process, such as current density, temperature, stirring speed, and current density, etc. Therefore, numerous efforts have been dedicated to improving its microstructure and micromorphology of the deposited coatings for enhancing their properties. Lately, relevant studies have revealed that the content of particles in the composite coating can be controlled by the external conditions during the deposition process, and resulting in a difference in the performance of the composite coatings. [PERSON] et al. [16] reported the nickel metal matrix composites reinforced with SiC submicron particles by electrodeposition. Besides, the influence of stirring speed and particles concentration on co-deposited composite coatings was investigated. The results indicated that the maximum of particle concentration was 20 g/L and the high stirring speed was chosen to obtain the wear resistant nickel matrix coatings. [PERSON] et al. [17] applied both direct and pulse current conditions to produce Ni/ nano-SiC composites, and it proved that pulse electrodeposition significantly improved the hardness of the Ni/SiC composite deposits. [PERSON] et al. [18] investigated the electrodeposition process of Ni at low electrolytic temperatures (5-20 \({}^{\circ}\)C). It demonstrated that low temperature could enhance the hardness up to 6.18 GPa and produce the smoothness of films. [PERSON] et al. [19] presented the effects of the deposition conditions and the nanoparticle concentration in the electrolyte on the surface microstructure, crystallographic micro-texture, microhardness, and tribological properties of coatings. The reinforcement of Ni-Al\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{3}\) nanoparticles significantly improved microhardness and wear resistance of the composite coatings. Based on the previous studies, it is necessary to clearly understand the influence of various conditions on the co-deposition of SiC whiskers in the nickel matrix, so as to consciously control the whiskers content and effectively manipulate the performance of the composite coatings. The purpose of this study is to achieve high SiC whiskers content in Ni/SiC\(w\) composite coatings.