In this study, pure tungsten is deposited on 310S austenitic stainless steel substrate by directed energy deposition (DED). The microstructure characteristics, elements distribution, phases, and microhardness were analyzed via a series of advanced material characterization methods including optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microhardness tester. The results show that there are incompletely melted tungsten particles exist in the deposited layer, and also a tungsten-rich structure that resolidifies after being completely melted, which is an intermetallic compound Fe7W6 and mainly exists in the form of dendrites. The incompletely melted tungsten particles metallurgically bond with the iron matrix, and a core-shell structure of Fe7W6/W is formed at the bonding interface.