Wear resistant Cu-based solid solution (Cu-ss) toughened Cr5Si3 metal silicide composite coatings were fabricated on austenitic stainless steel AISI321 by laser cladding process. Due to the rapidly solidified microstructural characteristics and the excellent toughening effect of Cu-ss on Cr5S6, the Cu-ss/Cr5Si3 coatings have outstanding wear resistance and low coefficient of friction under room temperature dry sliding wear test conditions coupling with hardened 0.45% C steel. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.