First, a pre-treatment step (alkaline degreasing step followed by a proprietary electrodeposition process) was employed for corrosion resistance, wettability of the surface and adhesion of the following lubricating layers. Three sets of coatings were prepared by electrodeposition of multilayers onto DC01 steel plates and then top-coated with either nickel or copper. Parameters for the electrodeposition were summarised in the Experimental Section. Two sets of coatings (ML (Ni) and ML (Cu) ) were produced as a multilayer structure comprising a 10 µm thick pre-treating layer, 15-20 µm thick Cu-GnP solid lubricant layer and flashed with 500 nm thick nickel or copper top-layer, respectively (Figure ). A third multilayer composite coating was produced by the deposition of a 10 µm thick pre-treating layer, a 15-20 µm thick Cu layer flashed with a 500 nm thick nickel top-layer (GnP-free