A nickel coating on the surface of alumina particles, used as a reinforcement in metal-ceramic composite materials, substantially improves their wettability by molten metals. Nickel was deposited on alumina particles by reducing nickel ions from a solution under hydrogen pressure in the presence of ammonia as a complexing agent. It was found that the addition of Fe2+ ions and anthraquinone was necessary for forming an adequate nickel coating on the alumina surface. The optimum conditions were the [NH3]/[Ni2+] ratio of 1.6, 2760 kPa hydrogen pressure, 175 degrees C, and an anthraquinone addition of 0.04 gl(-1).