In　this　study,　bulk　Cr3C2-20　wt　%　Ni　cermets　were　successfully　fabricated　by　high-energy　milling　and　pressureless　sintering　in　a　vacuum　furnace.　Microstructures,　elements　distribution,　and　high　temperature　oxidation　mechanism　were　researched　by　SEM,　EPMA,　and　differential　thermal　analyzer　(DTA),　respectively.　Oxidation　kinetics　regularity　of　bulk　Cr3C2-20　wt　%　Ni　cermets　was　investigated　at　600–800　°C　for　the　first　time.　Isothermal　cyclic　oxidation　experiments　were　studied　using　the　heat-treatment　furnace　for　100　h.　The　results　indicated　that　the　porosity　decreased,　while　the　hardness,　bending　strength,　and　fracture　toughness　increased　with　an　improvement　in　the　vacuum　degree.　Cr3C2-20　wt　%　Ni　cermets　displayed　outstanding　oxidation　resistance　and　the　dynamic　oxidation　curves　followed　the　parabolic　rate　law.　Besides,　the　oxidation　rate　constants　increased　three　orders　of　magnitudes　with　an　increase　in　the　oxidation　temperatures　from　600　°C　to　800　°C.　The　mechanism　of　the　oxidation　resistance　was　the　generation　of　the　protective　and　dense　oxide　layers　on　the　sub-surface　of　the　oxidation　specimens,　which　hindered　the　diffusion　of　Cr3+,　Ni2+,　O2　and　effectively　protected　the　substrate　from　further　oxidation.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd　and　Techna　Group　S.r.l.