A liquid polysiloxane system consisting of a polymethoxymethylsiloxan and a hydroxy-terminated linear polysiloxane was used as preceramic polymer coatings on stainless steel. Interface reactions between the polymer derived ceramic matrix and the steel substrate were evaluated during and after pyrolysis with X-ray diffraction analysis and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The system was loaded with different fillers and the rheological behaviour was investigated with respect to the coating thickness evolution by dip coating processing. Interface reactions with the steel components such as carbide formation and spinel formation were detected in the filler-free system and shear thinning was found to be a useful tool for coating thickness adjustment. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.