Objective To improve the wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the tin bronze by Ni-P alloy coating. Methods The tin bronze samples were activated by the acid activation solution with zinc and the plating was performed under the same condition. The properties of these state plated samples underwent heat treatment in the different temperatures (250, 400, 500 ℃) were compared, including the matrix, the plating coating and the coating after heat treatment. The impact was investigated of the different heat treatment temperatures on microstructure, microhardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of electroless Ni-P alloy coating on the tin bronze. Results The Ni-P alloy coating was formed on the surface of the tin bronze surface, the state plating coa-ting has no void defect with the base; instead, a good combination was observed; moreover, the deposition is faster, namely, 10. 00 μm / h. The microstructure of the coating transforms from amorphous to crystalline after heat treatment was studied, and the microhardness and wearability of the coating was best after 500 ℃ heat treatment, the corrosion resistance of the state plating coating and the coating after 250 ℃ heat treatment was obviously better than the tin bronze substrate in 10% HNO3 solution and 10% H2 SO4 solution, and the corrosion rate of the state plating coating was respectively 0. 225 mg / (cm2 ·d) and 0. 146 mg / (cm2 ·d) in the two kinds of medium solutions. Conclusion By the acid activation solution with zinc, electroless Ni-P alloy coating can be successfully prepared on the tin bronze surface with a nice plating effect. Our results show that the technology of electroless Ni-P alloy on copper can be also applied to the tin bronze.