The thick ceramic coatings were prepared on 6061 aluminum alloys by microarc oxidation in a silicate electrolyte. The morphology and phase constituent of the coatings with different thickness were studied by scanning electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction. Scratch and thermal shock tests were employed to evaluate the adhesion between the coating and alloy substrate. The maximum microhardness and its position away from alloy/coating interface increases with increasing the coating thickness. The critical scratch force for the coating break was about 55 N in the 50 μm thick coating. Thermal shock resistance of the coatings depend on their thickness and thinner coating has better thermal shock resistance. The coated alloy with 50 μm thick coating can be subjected to 50 times thermal cycles of heating up to 500°C followed by quenching into water.