Iron-based　composite　coatings　were　deposited　on　mild　steel　substrate　by　arc　spraying　cored　wire　with　WC-CoNi　ceramic　powders.　The　abrasion　wear　properties　were　evaluated　using　a　examined　MLS-225　wet　sand/rubber　wheel　tester.　The　microstructure,　phase　compositions　and　worn　surface　of　the　coatings　were　examined　by　means　of　optical,　scanning　electron　microscopy　and　X-ray　diffraction.　The　results　show　that　the　coatings　with　WC　ceramic　phases　exhibited　better　abrasive　wear　resistance　and　about　9　times　higher　than　that　of　the　Q235　mild　steel.　The　hardness　and　abrasive　resistance　of　the　coatings　increased　with　increasing　WC　content　in　the　cored　wire.　The　abrasive　wear　resistance　of　the　coating　reduced　when　WC　content　was　more　than　25%.　The　metallic　matrix　of　the　coatings,　due　to　their　low　hardness,　were　worn　prior　to　the　tungsten　carbides.　Brittle　peeling　and　micro-ploughing　are　the　major　wear　mechanism　of　the　coatings.　WC,　Fe3B　ceramic　phase　with　higher　hardness　played　a　role　to　resist　the　abrasion　from　silica,　and　thus　decreases　the　abrasion　of　the　coatings.