Weak adhesion between the metal-based antibacterial coatings and polymer substrates limits their clinical applications; surface modification is an effective way to solve this intrinsic problem. In this study, UV irradiation was employed to activate the inert silicon rubber substrates, and the grafting of coupling agent (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxy silane into the UV-irradiated substrates generated reactive surface containing -SH groups. During electroless plating S which has lone pair electrons anchored Ag+ and produced antibacterial coatings with improved adhesion. The grafting of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane into silicon rubber was verified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adhesion was tested by American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM D 3359-02). Surface elements content and distribution were observed and analyzed by X-ray energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS). The antibacterial performance was characterized by inhibition halo test and shake flash method. The results showed that the as-prepared composite Ag-polytetrafluoroethylene coatings possessed remarkably enhanced ad hesion and superior antibacterial activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.