In this paper, an environmentally friendly electroplating process of the composite Ni-P + TiO2 coatings was developed. Such coatings were prepared by in situ codeposition of Ni-P with TiO2 powder (anatase) on a polycrystalline copper substrate from the nickel-plating bath in which titanium dioxide particles were held in suspension. The codeposition was carried out under galvanostatic conditions on a rotating disc electrode. To optimize the production conditions of the Ni-P coatings modified with TiO2 by the method of mathematical statistics, the Hartley's polyselective quasi D optimum plan of experiments was used. The relationship between the percentage content in the electrodeposited composite Ni-P + TiO2 coatings (z) and the electrodeposition parameters like cathodic current density (j(dep)), bath temperature (T) as well as content of TiO2 powder suspended in the galvanic bath (c), has been described by the adequate cubic polynomial equation and illustrated graphically. Based on the Hartley's plan it can be stated that the maximal TiO2 content of 28.7 at.% in the Ni-P + TiO2 coating can be obtained for the following optimal parameters of the electrodeposition process: j(dep) = 0.05 A cm(-2), c = 99 g dm(-3) and T = 40 degrees C. The chemical and physical characteristics of the coating obtained under such optimum conditions, have been presented. The deposit exhibits the presence of TiO2 particles embedded into the amorphous Ni-P matrix. It has been ascertained that embedding of TiO2 powder to the amorphous Ni-P matrix leads to the production of deposits with large surface area. Such electrochemical codeposition method may be a good alternative in the field of porous composite coatings used in gas evolution. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.