Metal-matrix　composite　(MMC)　coatings　were　deposited　by　laser　cladding　technique　with　direct　injection　of　WC-FeNiCr　powder　onto　N1310　nonmagnetic　steel　matrix.　Laser　cladding　was　conducted　using　a　Trumpf6000　CO2　laser.　The　morphology　of　WC-FeNiCr　MMC　coatings　was　characterized　using　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM).　Magnetic　properties　of　WC-FeNiCr　MMC　coatings　were　examined　by　vibrating　sample　magnetometer　(VSM)　at　room　temperature.　The　influence　of　laser　cladding　process　on　the　magnetic　properties　of　coatings　was　investigated.　It　was　found　that　the　content　of　tungsten　carbide　and　laser　power　have　significant　effect　on　the　magnetic　properties　of　composite　coatings.　The　evolution　of　phase　constitution　at　different　laser　power　was　identified　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD).　The　presence　of　an　austenitic　gamma-(Fe,　Ni),　Cr0.19Fe0.7Ni0.11,　Fe3W3C,　WC　and　W2C　phases　were　confirmed　by　the　XRD　analysis　in　the　laser　clad　layer.　(C)　2012　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.