This work studies reactive mechanisms involved in liquid Al infiltration of green preforms containing tailored amounts of Al2O3 and CuO. Infiltration reactions involving Al and copper oxides are expected to produce Al2O3, as fine particulate reinforcements, and Cu, as Al-matrix strengthener. Preforms with 75 similar to mol%-CuO were infiltrated with Al at 1000 degrees C and 1100 degrees C in air. Under low PO2, copper oxides are reduced to Cu, blocking the opportunity for reactive infiltration. Also, the Al-Cu/Al2O3 contact angle is insufficiently low to drive spontaneous infiltration. At 1000 degrees C, infiltration is incipient, indicating that CuO reaction with Al is not sufficiently vigorous to destabilize enveloping Al2O3. At 1100 degrees C, CuO reduces to Cu2O and infiltration is triggered, although the process is incomplete due to formation of a compact Al2O3 layer which inhibits metal supply to the reaction front. At or behind the halted infiltration front consumption of starting Al2O3 particles and formation of CuAlO2 occur. The space among these phases is occupied by a Cu-rich matrix, rendering an almost totally densified microstructure. This study shows that liquid Al infiltration of Al2O3/CuO greens is possible at 1100 degrees C, in air, due to destabilization of the Al2O3 enveloping film and reactive infiltration, promoted by the redox reaction between Al and copper oxide.