This paper presents the possibility of composite block production by using pressure
infiltration technology. This method uses the pressure of an inert gas (usually argon or
nitrogen) to force the melted matrix material to infiltrate the reinforcing elements. Two types
of materials were considered: metal matrix syntactic foam and carbon fibre reinforced metal
matrix composite. Physical and mechanical investigations – such as optical microscopy,
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractography (XRD), tensile and upsetting
tests (considering aspect ratio) – were performed. The results of measurements are
summarized briefly here. Microscopic investigations showed almost perfect infiltration. XRD
measurements and tensile tests revealed negative effect of an intermetallic phase (Al(4)C(3)) on
ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Syntactic foams showed plateau region in their upsetting
diagrams. The effect of aspect ratio was also investigated. Specimens with higher aspect ratios
showed higher peak stress and higher modulus of elasticity. In the case of carbon fibre
reinforced metal matrix composites Al(4)C(3) ensured high compressive fracture strength
