A process for coating a metal article may include: preparing an electrolytic bath including a suspension of boron carbide particles in an aqueous solution including: at least one nickel (II) salt; and at least one phosphorous compound selected from: phosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, hypophosphorous acid, or their salts; and immersing, in the electrolytic bath, a cathode and an anode, and carrying out electrodeposition by passing direct current in the electrolytic bath. The cathode may include the metal article to be coated. The boron carbide particles may have an average size greater than or equal to 0.01 micron (μm) and less than or equal to 2 μm. The boron carbide particles may have been pretreated with at least one carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof. The at least one carboxylic acid or the derivative thereof may have a solubility in water at 20° C. greater than 0.10 grams/liter.