The　ZrO2–Al2O3　(ZTA)　ceramic　particles　reinforced　iron　matrix　composite　was　a　novel　wear-resistance　material　because　of　their　excellent　toughness　and　hardness.　However,　the　poor　interfacial　bonding　property　restricted　the　application　of　ZTAP/Fe　composites　in　the　harsh　service　condition.　A　continuous　and　uniform　Ni80Cr20　coating　on　the　ZTA　ceramic　surface　was　successfully　prepared　by　multi-arc　ion　plating.　The　influence　of　NiCr　coating　on　the　interfacial　character　of　ZTAP/Fe　composites　was　investigated.　The　interface　characteristics　and　phase　constitutions　of　ZTAP/Fe　composites　were　also　analyzed　by　electron　probe　microanalysis　(EPMA)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　The　results　showed　that　the　Ni80Cr20　coating　can　significantly　improve　the　interfacial　layer　bonding　of　composites　without　visible　defects.　The　diffusion　of　Ni　and　Cr　and　the　formation　of　a　continuous　transition　layer　ensure　the　metallurgical　bonding　between　ZTA　ceramic　and　iron　matrix.　The　composite　N1　acquired　better　wear　resistance　than　that　of　composite　N2　without　Ni80Cr20　coating,　and　the　relative　wear　resistance　was　1.98　times　at　the　55　N　applied　load.　The　interface　of　composite　N1　was　closely　bonded　with　a　transition　layer,　which　may　prevent　the　ceramic　particles　peeling　off　from　the　iron　matrix　during　the　wear　process.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd