<p>This study aimed to develop a TiC-AlN composite coating on 45 steel using tungsten inert gas (TIG) cladding and to comprehensively evaluate its surface properties. Mechanical and tribological tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of TIG current on the properties of the TiC-AlN composite coatings. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to observe the wear morphology and microstructure of the coatings, while x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyzed the phase composition of the as-prepared coatings and wear products. The results show that the coating prepared at a process current of 110 A exhibited the most significant improvement in friction and wear performance. The peak microhardness of the ceramic coating was 752.5 HV_0.5, a low wear rate of 100 × 10⁻⁸ g/Nm, and a coefficient of friction (COF) of 0.682 ± 0.045. This microstructure comprises an α-Fe matrix, within which uniformly distributed AlN and Ti(C,N) particles serve as hard reinforcing phases. The excellent wear resistance originated from the synergistic effect of wear-induced in situ formed Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ oxides, along with the intrinsically in situ formed Ti(C,N) phase during cladding, which collectively enhanced resistance to abrasive plowing and plastic deformation. This coating process is expected to expand the range of applications for 45 steel.</p>