Characterization of Al/B4C composite materials fabricated by powder metallurgy process technique for nuclear applications

•Homogeneous Al/B4C composite materials were fabricated through solid state powder metallurgy by the hot-pressing sintering process. The Al/B4C interface was observed by HRTEM.•Experimental values were modeled for thermal conductivity and the coefficient of thermal expansion with the volume fraction of B4C.•Al/B4C tensile test characterization with different contents of B4C and mechanical behavior were discussed.