Aluminum-matrix composites containing AIN or SiC particles were fabricated by vacuum infiltration of liquid aluminum into a porous particulate preform under an argon pressure of up to 41 MPa. Al/AIN was superior to Al/SiC in thermal conductivity. At 59 vol.% AIN, Al/AlN had a thermal conductivity of 157 W/m. °C and a thermal expansion coefficient of 9.8 × 10−-6°C−1 (35–100 °C). Al/AlN had similar tensile strength and higher ductility compared to Al/SiC of a similar reinforcement volume fraction at room temperature, but exhibited higher tensile strength and higher ductility at 300–400°C. The ductility of Al/AlN increased with increasing temperature from 22 to 400°C, while that of Al/SiC did not change with temperature. The superior high temperature resistance of Al/AlN is attributed to the lack of a reaction between Al and AIN, in contrast to the reaction between Al and SiC in AI/SiC.