In this paper, SiO2-Al2O3 coatings were deposited on a NiCrFe alloy by dip-coating with tetraethyl orthosilicate and nitrate as the raw materials. The effects of the main preparative parameters on the coating were investigated using XRD, SEM, FTIR, thermal shock cycling, and ultrasonic vibration. The results show that the morphologies, specific surface area, adhesion and thermal stability of the coating are affected by the SiO2 content in the SiO2-Al2O3 sol and the pre-oxidation temperature of the NiCrFe support. The optimal treatment conditions for producing high-quality coatings were identified from our experimental results. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.