Thin films containing yttrium were deposited on TA6V substrates by an electrochemical technique, from a hydro-alcoholic solution. After deposition, the samples were thermally treated to transform the deposited compound into yttrium oxide. The influence of the obtained Y2O3 coating on the isothermal oxidation behaviour of the titanium alloy was then investigated between 600 and 850 degrees C, under synthetic air at atmospheric pressure. The classical "reactive element effect" was not observed even if weight gain was decreased during high-temperature oxidation. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.