Thermally　sprayed　composite　coatings　have　been　extensively　used　in　a　variety　of　industrial　applications.　The　mechanical　property　and　sliding　wear　performance　of　a　plasma　sprayed　boride　based　composite　coating　(TiB2-NiCr)　was　tested　and　compared　to　a　traditional　carbide　based　composite　coating　(Cr3C2-NiCr).　The　results　indicated　that　the　boride　based　composite　coating　presented　higher　microhardness　and　improved　wear　resistance　under　dry　sliding　condition.　The　coefficient　of　friction　of　boride　based　coating　wearing　against　cast　iron　was　lower.　Moreover,　the　boride　composite　coating　displayed　less　wear　damage　to　the　iron　counterpart.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.