The　influence　of　Mn　additions　on　the　microstructure　and　magnetic　properties　of　FeNiCr/60%WC　composite　coatings　produced　by　laser　cladding　was　investigated.　The　microstructure　of　FeNiCr/60%WC　coatings　was　characterized　using　SEM,　TEM　and　XRD.　The　magnetic　properties　of　the　composite　coatings　were　examined　by　a　vibrating　sample　magnetometer　(VSM).　The　valence　electron　structure　and　magnetic　moments　of　Fe3W3C　and　Fe-based　solid　solution　were　calculated　according　to　the　empirical　electron　theory　(EET)　of　solids　and　molecules.　The　results　showed　that　FeNiCr/60%WC　composite　coatings　had　a　high　metallurgical　quality,　and　that　Mn　can　stabilize　the　austenite　region　and　promote　the　formation　of　Cr0.19Fe0.7Ni0.11.　The　relative　permeability　decreased　significantly　with　increasing　the　addition　of　Mn,　indicating　that　Mn　had　the　potential　to　improve　the　non-magnetic　properties　of　the　composite　coatings.　EET　results　revealed　that　Fe3W3C　was　a　weakly　ferromagnetic　phase　with　a　magnetic　moment　of　0.9018,　which　appeared　to　be　the　main　factor　affecting　the　non-magnetic　properties　of　the　coatings.　In　addition,　given　a　constant　amount　of　Ni　in　the　Fe-Ni-Cr　alloy,　the　average　magnetic　moment　of　the　alloy　decreased　with　increasing　Mn.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.