Metal　matrix　composites　(MMCs),　renowned　for　their　lightweight　and　exceptional　mechanical　properties,　are　currently　in　high　demand.　Herein,　carbon　fiber‑aluminum　metal　matrix　composites　(CF/Al　MMCs)　modified　with　4　types　of　corrosion-barrier　interface　coatings　(CBCs),　respectively,　including　Ni,　TiO2,　ZnO,　and　Al2O3　were　investigated,　and　the　composites　were　prepared　by　squeeze　casting　technique.　The　effects　of　these　CBCs　on　the　CF/Al　interface　reaction　and　the　mechanical　properties　and　electrochemical　corrosion　resistance　of　the　composites　are　revealed　and　discussed　thoroughly.　It　is　observed　that　T300‑carbon　fiber　reinforced　MMCs　without　any　CBCs　exhibit　low　mechanical　strength　due　to　the　formation　of　Al4C3　phase　induced　by　strong　interaction　between　fiber　and　matrix.　With　CBCs,　the　formation　of　Al4C3　was　significantly　suppressed.　Comparatively,　the　ZnO-coated　CF/Al　MMCs　exhibit　the　most　remarkable　enhancement　in　the　mechanical　properties　with　a　flexural　strength　of　796.4　MPa　and　a　modulus　of　105.3　GPa,　which　are　approximately　114%　and　52.2%　higher　than　those　of　the　counterparts　without　CBCs,　respectively.　More　importantly,　the　CF/Al　MMCs　with　CBCs　demonstrate　superior　chemical　corrosion　resistance,　retaining　their　mechanical　performance　even　after　a　7-day　immersion　in　salt　solutions.　These　results　provide　an　important　guideline　in　interface　engineering　for　MMCs　with　enhanced　mechanical　properties　and　electrochemical　corrosion　resistance.　©　2024　Elsevier　Inc.