In　present　study,　Fe-based　composite　layers　were　fabricated　on　steel　substrate　by　laser　cladding　with　or　without　the　addition　of　Nb　and　B4C　in　Fe-based　alloy　powders.　The　phase　composition,　microstructure　evolution,　microhardness　and　wear　properties　of　Fe-based　composite　layers　were　studied.　The　results　showed　that　the　phases　in　the　Fe-based　composite　layer　were　mainly　alpha-Fe,　Fe2B,　Cr7C3　and　Cr23C6.　The　addition　of　Nb　and　B4C　resulted　in　the　in-situ　formation　of　NbC　phase,　an　increase　in　the　amount　of　Fe2B　phase,　and　the　refinement　of　the　microstructure　in　the　Fe-based　composite　layer.　The　microhardness　of　the　Fe-based　composite　layer　was　increased　by　269.5　HV0.5　and　the　wear　resistance　was　improved　to　about　1.5　times　the　original　wear　resistance　when　the　5%　Nb　and　5%　B4C　powders　were　added.　The　wear　mechanisms　of　both　two　Fe-based　composite　layers　were　abrasive　wear　and　adhesive　wear.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.