The electrolytic codeposition of silica particles with aluminum was investigated from an AlCl3-dimethylsulfone electrolyte containing monodisperse silica particles with a diam of 0.2 mum The electrodeposition was done at 110 degreesC and at current densities between 6 and 13 A/dm(2). Dense aluminum coatings with a thickness of 20 mum were obtained at a plating rate of 77 mum/h. The coatings contained a homogeneous dispersion of individual silica particles. The amount of codeposited silica particles was found to depend on the concentration of silica particles suspended in the electrolyte and the current density.