Four types of Cr 3 C 2 -NiCr coatings containing different fractions of CeO 2 additive were deposited using high velocity oxy-fuel spraying. Hardness tester, X-ray diffractometer, contact surface profiler, and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer were employed to characterize the microhardness, phase composition, surface roughness, and microstructure of as-sprayed coatings. At the same time, the friction and wear behavior of the as-sprayed coatings sliding against Si 3 N 4 ball at room temperature and elevated temperature of 400 or 800°C under unlubricated condition was evaluated using an oscillating friction and wear tester. The worn surfaces of the composite coatings and Si 3 N 4 counterpart balls were analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and three dimensional non-contact surface profiler. The friction and wear mechanisms of the coatings with and without CeO 2 additive were comparatively discussed. Results show that the composite coatings doped with CeO 2 had better wear-resistance than that without CeO 2 , and the coating containing 4 wt% CeO 2 showed the best wear-resistant property. The improved wear-resistant properties of the composite coatings doped with CeO 2 were attributed to the refined microstructure and improved mechanical properties induced by CeO 2 .