Characteristic of cheap ceramic alumina-silica (Sibral) fibres and their application in aluminium to produce composite material is given. Strengths and Young’s modulus of short (average length of 148 mu m) fibres are 0.8 GPa and 70 GPa, respectively and its density is 2600 kg m(-3). Composite materials Al-Sibral fibres were prepared by pressure infiltration of aluminium into the preform made with SiO2 as bonding phase (by set-gel method). Sibral fibres increase tensile strength and wear resistance of the composite. These fibres significantly reduce that coefficient of thermal expansion. Results from the interaction between fibres and matrix as well as from the fracture of composite are presented and mechanism of the interaction zone (alpha-Al2O3 in crystalline form) formation is discussed.