A wear-resistant EPD layer of TiCsub (i.e. sub micrometer titanium carbide) was synthesized by pressureless infiltration sintering. EPD is an ideal technique to form a porous layer that could be thickness modulated by easily change of applied voltage/current. Full melt spreading of NiCrBSiFe on TiCsub EPD layer and suppression of TiCsub grain growth can be achieved by substituting TiCsub with core-shell structure of NiP electroless plated on TiCsub. In an infiltrated layer, lowering of TiCsub pushing by solidification front hence homogeneous distribution of TiCsub along with eliminating porous TiCsub solid skeletons are essential factors to improve the wear properties. Wear measurement results showed decrement in friction coefficient of NiCrBSiFe (0.29–0.17), amplitude of acoustic emission signals and wear coefficient (variation between 10−5 and10−6) by embedding TiCsub into the NiCrBSiFe layer. It is postulated that melt infiltration of an EPD layer is a practical way to clad wear-resisting layers on the surface. Display omitted •Utilizing electrophoretic deposition (i.e. EPD) and melt infiltration as a novel method to distribute homogeneous and high volume fraction of TiCsubmic in NiCrBSiFe cladding.•Improvement of melt spreading on EPD layers by using core-shell structures of TiCcore@Ni-Pshell.•HRTEM microstructure and wear studies (scratching and pin-on disk) of melt infiltrated EPD layers.