Laser　cladding　nickel-based　alloy　coating　has　dense　microstructure　and　good　bonding　with　base　material,　but　its　wear　resistance　is　difficult　to　meet　the　requirements　of　harsh　environment.　In　order　to　enhance　the　microhardness　and　wear　resistance　of　nickel-based　coatings,　NbC　(0.6　＜　d　＜　5 μm)　was　added　directly　to　Ni45　powder　to　prepare　laser　cladding　nickel-based　composite　coatings.　By　studying　the　microstructure,　microhardness　and　wear　resistance,　it　was　found　that　the　main　phases　in　the　coating　were　γ-Ni　solid　solution　and　precipitated　phases　such　as　Cr23C6,　Cr7C3　and　NbC.　The　addition　of　NbC　inhibits　the　formation　of　Cr23C6　and　the　total　carbide　content　within　the　coating　is　reduced,　which　limited　the　further　improvement　of　the　microhardness　of　the　coating.　Due　to　the　refining　effect　of　Nb,　the　dendrite　arm　spacing　was　reduced　up　to　64.7%　of　the　1#　coating,　and　the　grain　size　was　reduced　to　60.0%　of　the　1#　coating,　and　the　coatings　demonstrate　better　wear　resistance　during　frictional　wear.　©　2023,　ASM　International.