Abstract: TiC+Al₂O₃/Ni composite coating was prepared by argon arc cladding. Four factors and four levels orthogonal test were designed. The effect of cladding current (100,110,120, 130 A), cladding velocity (1,2,3,4 mm · s⁻¹), arc length (1,2,3,4 mm) and argon flow rate (8,10,12,14 L · min⁻¹) on coating dilution rate and microhardness was studied, and the optimal process parameters were obtained. The phase composition and microstructure of the coating under different process parameters were compared and analyzed. The results show that the main influencing factors of dilution rate and microhardness were cladding velocity and cladding current, respectively. With the increase of the cladding velocity, the dilution rate decreased, and the microhardness increased first and then decreased. With the increase of cladding current, the dilution rate increased, and the microhardness increased first and then decreased. With the increase of arc length, the dilution rate decreased and the microhardness first decreased and then increased. Argon flow rate had little effect on the dilution rate and microhardness. The optimal cladding parameters were as follows: cladding current of 120 A, cladding speed of 2 mm · s⁻¹, arc length of 2 mm, argon flow of 12 L · min⁻¹. The microstructure of the coating prepared under optimal parameters was fine and uniform, and the microhardness reached the maximum of 680.9 HV.