The effect of cooling rate and Ti additions on the mechanical properties and carbides characteristics such as morphology, size distribution and composition was studied in high-chromium cast irons containing Fe–17 mass%Cr–4 mass%C. Based on the size distribution, composition and morphology, M₇C₃ type carbides were roughly classified into “primary M₇C₃ carbides” and “eutectic M₇C₃ carbides” with a 11.2 μm border size. Thereafter, the change of the solidification structure and especially the refinement of carbides size were determined. It was found that both the size and number values should be summarized systematically for primary M₇C₃ carbides and eutectic M₇C₃ carbides, respectively. Also, TiC carbides with a high formation temperature can not only act as a nuclei of M₇C₃ carbides, but they also contain a Ti(C, N) core. In the as-cast condition, the bulk hardness of the cast irons increases with an increased Ti content. In addition, the wear loss increases with an increased Ti content. Neither the bulk hardness nor the wear loss did change too much with an increased cooling rate.