In situ Al2O3p/A356 composites with different particle volume fractions were successfully synthesised from the Al-SiO2 system by a direct-melt reaction. γ-Al2O3 was first produced during the reaction between Al and SiO2, and the phase transformation from γ-Al2O3 to α-Al2O3 then occurred at higher temperatures (1050°C), resulting in a volume contraction. The α-Al2O3p/A356 composite exhibited a reduction in dendrite cell size that was 1.5–2 greater than for the matrix alloy cast using the same conditions. A 10% particle volume fraction yielded optimum mechanical properties, with values for the yield stress, tensile strength, elongation and microhardness of 132 MPa, 268 MPa, 5.1% and 107.2 HV, respectively. These corresponded to increases 50, 31, 19 and 47%, respectively, when compared to the matrix. This paper is part of a thematic issue on Light Alloys.