The　Ni-Co/WC　composite　coatings　were　fabricated　on　ZG45　steel　by　vacuum　sintering　cladding.　Microstructure　and　composition　of　the　composite　coatings　were　characterized　by　SEM,　EPMA　and　XRD.　The　bending　behavior　and　bending　strength　of　the　composite　coatings　were　studied　by　three-point　bending　test.　The　results　show　that　the　WC　particles　are　distributed　in　the　Ni-Co　alloy　matrix　forming　a　special　3D　reticular　microstructure.　The　main　phases　of　the　composite　coatings　are　WC,　Cr7C3,　Cr23C6,　Ni3Si,　FeNi3　and　nickel　and　cobalt　based　solid　solution.　Three　point　bending　test　results　show　that　the　Ni-Co/WC　composite　coatings　peel　off　along　the　interface　between　the　coating　and　substrate,　however,　no　transverse　cracking　is　observed　along　the　interface　between　the　coating　and　substrate　for　the　Ni-Co　alloy　coatings　in　the　tension　stress　state.　The　dimple　fracture　morphology　shows　the　ductile　facture　mechanism　for　the　substrate,　and　the　facture　of　the　Ni-Co/WC　composite　coatings　exhibits　mixed-rupture　characteristics　of　transgranular　and　intergranular　fracture.　©　2016,　Editorial　Office　of　Transactions　of　Materials　and　Heat　Treatment.　All　right　reserved.