The initial nickel deposition for the direct electroless nickel plating on non-catalytically active magnesium alloy is critical. The surface morphology and composition of the initial nickel plating coating are obtained by means of the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the energy dispersive X-ray (EDS). In addition, the mass gain/loss in the initial nickel deposition process was measured by using the electrobalance. The results showed that the MgO coating was gradually corroded by the plating solution, at the same time, MgF2 produced by F , H+ and MgO was deposited on the substrate during the initial electroless plating process. The nickel of the initial electroless plating was mostly growing on the boundary between the MgF2 coating and the MgO coating of the activation substrate, and then came to two sides. After that, the Ni-P coating growth rate to cover with the MgF2 coating was prior to the MgO coating. The electroless plating was in company with the substrate corrosion, but the electroless plating rate catalyzed by the exchanged nickel was more than the substrate corrosion rate.
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