The　dry　sliding　wear　behaviors　of　the　1.0–5.0　wt%　ZrC/2024Al　composites　at　the　speeds　of　0.52,　0.78,　1.04　m/s　under　loads　of　18,　36,　72　N　were　investigated.　The　results　declare　the　4.0　wt%　ZrC/2024Al　composites　exhibit　the　best　abrasive　resistance　by　showing　the　lowest　wear　rate　among　all　samples　at　36　N　and　0.78　m/s.　The　wear　rates　of　the　2024Al　and　4.0　wt%　ZrC/2024Al　composites　are　increased　with　the　load　at　various　velocities　while　the　friction　coefficient　displays　an　opposite　variation　tendency.　The　wear　rate　and　friction　coefficient　of　the　two　materials　are　decreased　as　the　sliding　velocity　goes　up　under　all　loads.　The　wear　behavior　of　the　composite　is　dominated　by　the　main　abrasive　wear　and　secondary　tribo-chemical　reaction　and　adhesive　wear　at　low　load　(18　N)　and　slow　sliding　velocity　(0.52　m/s),　while　with　the　load　and　sliding　speed　increased,　the　composites　are　controlled　by　the　major　tribo-chemical　reaction　and　abrasion　and　adhesion　wear　sub-mechanism.　The　improved　wear　resistance　in　4.0　wt%　ZrC/2024Al　composite　is　attributed　to　the　excellent　hardness,　high　strength　and　strain　resulting　from　the　unique　quasi-network　structure,　which　benefits　to　form　the　protective　mechanically　mixed　layer　and　resist　the　counterbody.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.