Abstract: The wear resistance of three kinds of thermal sprayed coatings under stable loading and dynamic loading was examined with a reciprocal sliding test rig and an impact scratching tester, respectively. The emphasis was put on the comparison of the wear-resistance and hardeness and plasticity and brittleness of the coatings. The wear mechanisms of the coatings were also discussed based on scanning electron microscopic observation of the worn coating surfaces. As the results, the coatings under sliding friction were characterized by micro-cutting and micro-ploughing, while they were govenred by split cutting and fracture under impact scratching. The wear resistance of the thermal sprayed coatings was not only dependent on the hardness, but also on the plasticity, brittleness and cohesion.