<p>To enhance the wear resistance and reduce friction in hydraulic support columns, thereby extending their service life, the β-Si₃N₄/304SS composite coatings were fabricated on the 27SiMn steel substrate via high-speed laser processing. The organization and wear and friction-reduction properties of β-Si₃N₄/304SS composite coatings fabricated via high-speed laser cladding (HLC) (the content of β-Si₃N₄ was 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 wt.%, respectively) were investigated. The results show that the β-Si₃N₄/304SS composite coatings fabricated via laser cladding technology are composed of striped columnar crystals and equiaxed crystals in the middle and upper parts. The middle and lower parts of the coatings near the fusion line are rich in equiaxed crystals and fine dendritic crystals among the striped columnar crystals. The incorporation of β-Si₃N₄ particles induces the transformation of the lower and middle regions of the coatings into fine equiaxed grains and cellular crystals, and the metal nitrides CrN, and metal silicides CrSi₂ and Fe₂Si were generated in the coating, which was influenced by the strengthening phase and part of grain refinement compared with that without the β-Si₃N₄ coating. Grains and cellular crystals, metal nitride CrN, and metal silicides CrSi₂ and Fe₂Si were produced in the coating. The hardness of 1% ~ 5% β-Si₃N₄ coatings was increased by 1.07 ~ 1.46 times compared with that of the no-β-Si₃N₄ coatings due to the influence of reinforced phases and partial grain refinement, and the friction mass loss was reduced from 0.0037 to 0.0011&#xa0;g, which was reduced by 70%. The friction coefficient dropped from 0.7178 to 0.5548, resulting in a 22.71% decrease. β-Si₃N₄ ceramic granules can significantly improve the hardness and abrasion resistance of 304SS coating.</p>