Abstract: In order to overcome the penetration of the steel/copper interface during the cladding process, avoid interface defects, and improve the wear resistance of the coating. A nickel-based alloy transition layer/aluminum bronze gradient coating was prepared on 40Cr matrix by laser cladding. The effects of transition layer and laser power on the microstructure and wear resistance of the aluminum bronze coating were explored. The aluminum bronze coating without a transition layer consists of an α phase (FCC) with Al as the main solid solution element and a κ phase(BCC) with a high Fe content. In contrast, the aluminum bronze coating with a transition layer is composed of an α phase(FCC) with Ni as the main solid solution element, a Cu-Ni phase, and a κ phase(BCC) with a high Cr content.The average surface hardness of the aluminum bronze coatings without a transition layer is relatively low(the highest value was 167 HV0.2), while the surface hardness of the aluminumbronze coatings with a transition layer is significantly improved. The average surface hardness of the aluminum bronze prepared at a laser power of 800 W is 283 HV0.2. Under the dry friction test with a load of 5 N, the wear rate of the coating is reduced to 210×10^-12 m³/(N·m), and the friction coefficient is 0.3. The introduction of the nickel-based transition layer affects the microstructure of the aluminum bronze coating, and the second phase strengthening effect and solution strengthening effect are more significant, and the wear resistance of the coating is improved