In this paper, carbon fibers with improved thermal stability and oxidation resistive properties were prepared and evaluated their physical performances under oxidation condition. Carbon fibers were coated with SiC particles dispersed in a polyacrylonitrile solution and then followed by pyrolyzed at 1400 degrees C to obtain the SiC nanoparticle deposition on the surface of the carbon fiber. The SiC coated carbon fiber showed extended oxidation resistive property as remaining 80-88% of the original weight even at high temperature 1000 degrees C under air, as compared with the control of zero weight at 600 degrees C. The effects of the coating conditions on the oxidation resistive properties of the coated fibers were studied in detail. (c) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.