Four　Fe-Cr-C　hardfacing　alloys　with　carbon　contents　of　3.34-6.5%　were　studied.　The　orientation　of　primary　carbides　in　the　microstructures　of　hardfacing　layers　produced　by　arc　surfacing　was　investigated　under　controlled　cooling　conditions.　Carbon　content　and　cooling　conditions　were　found　to　play　an　important　role　in　determining　overlayer　microstructures.　Increasing　carbon　content　or　decreasing　Cr/C　ratio　increased　the　tendency　for　primary　carbides　to　be　oriented　perpendicular　to　the　surface　of　the　overlayers,　and　the　carbides　in　the　microstructure　became　more　compact.　Under　water　cooling　conditions,　the　primary　carbides　were　preferentially　oriented　perpendicular　to　the　surface,　which　would　be　expected　to　improve　wear　resistance.　At　lower　cooling　rates,　primary　carbides　were　oriented　randomly.