The microstructures and hardness of nickel-based WC,p,/Ni60 composite layers prepared by plasma transfer arc surfacing with different transfer arc currents were analyzed to study the effect of transfer arc current on WC particles reinforced nickel-based（WC,p,/Ni60） composite layers. By controlling different transfer arc currents,Ni60 +25% WC（casting） powder was deposited on the Q235 carbon steel plate by plasma transfer arc surfacing,and well-formed and crack-free plasma deposition layers were successfully obtained under reasonable technological conditions;the hardness of the deposition layer was positively correlated with the transfer arc current of plasma surfacing,when the transfer arc current was135 A,the hardness was more than 590 HV5. The WC,p,/Ni60 composite layers of plasma surfacing under different transfer arc currents had obvious stratification phenomena. In the upper layers,the coarse star-shaped and needle-like Cr23 C6 were distributed in the nickel-based solid solution and nickel-based eutectic microstructures. The sectional area ratio of WC particles in the lower layers increased from about 15% at 165 A to about 40% at 135 A.