The　interaction　between　oxidation　and　frictional　load　can　greatly　deteriorate　the　performance　of　ceramic　-metal　composites.　In　this　work,　we　used　WC-Co　cermet　as　a　representative　of　ceramic-metal　composites　to　study　its　wear　failure　behavior　and　protection　effectiveness.　It　is　found　that　a　transition　of　wear　mech-anism　from　mechanical　wear　to　oxidative　wear　occurs　with　increasing　temperature.　The　addition　of　zir-conia　can　significantly　improve　the　anti-oxidation　performance　and　load-bearing　capacity　of　the　cermet　under　the　frictional　load.　This　is　mainly　attributed　to　the　modulation　of　the　tribo-oxide　layer　constitu-tions　and　changes　in　surface　morphology.　The　zirconia　component　facilitates　the　formation　of　a　dense　protective　oxide　layer　and　reduces　the　content　of　brittle　oxides　on　the　worn　surface.　Based　on　the　under-standing　of　the　temperature-and　oxidation-induced　compositional　and　microstructural　evolutions　at　the　sliding　contact　surface　and　subsurface,　a　promising　approach　is　proposed　for　developing　ceramic-metal　composites　with　high　wear　resistance　and　anti-oxidation　capability.(c)　2023　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd　on　behalf　of　The　editorial　office　of　Journal　of　Materials　Science　&　Technology.