This work investigated the grafting of 11-(2-bromoisobutyrate)-undecyl-1-phosphonic acid (BUPA) and 1-dodecylphosphonic acid (C(12)PA) to form (mixed) monolayers with different proportions of BUPA and C(12)PA on Phynox. The role and impact of these grafted molecules have been evaluated in terms of the corrosion resistance and the feasibility to act as a suitable platform for surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 2-(trimethylammonio) ethyl phosphate (MPC). It appeared that both molecules play an important role: BUPA to initiate the ATRP polymerization of MPC and C(12)PA to increase the resistance to corrosion of Phynox substrates. Moreover, the presence of C(12)PA in the mixed monolayer beneath the poly-2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl 2-(trimethylammonio)ethyl phosphate (PMPC) layer has a beneficial impact in terms of corrosion resistance. (c) 2014 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.