Electroless Ag-polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite coatings were prepared on stainless steel sheets. The existence and distribution of PTFE in the coatings were analysed with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The contact angle values and surface energies of the Ag-PTFE coatings, silver coating, stainless steel, titanium and E. coli Rosetta were measured. The experimental results showed that stainless steel surfaces coated with Ag-PTFE reduced E. coli attachment by 94-98%, compared with silver coating, stainless steel or titanium surfaces. The anti-bacterial mechanism of the Ag-PTFE composite coatings was explained with the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The anticorrosion properties of the Ag-PTFE composite coatings in 0.9% NaCl solution were studied. The results showed that the corrosion resistance of the Ag-PTFE composite coatings was superior to that of stainless steel 316L. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.