In this work several aspects of pressure infiltration of Al and Al-12wt%Si eutectic alloy into preforms of packed carbon particulates have been investigated. Compacts were prepared from particles of average diameter 13.5, 26 and 61.6 mu m. While infiltration with pure Al at 750 degrees C was very poor due to the extensive reaction between C and Al, the substantial lowering of the infiltration temperature that allows the use of Al-Si eutectic alloy, greatly improved infiltration performance. Results for the threshold pressure and infiltration kinetics are discussed in the light of previously published results for different systems. The effect of Ti addition has also been investigated. (C) 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.