Abstract Continuously and discontinuously reinforced Al/SiC metal matrix composites (MMCs) are promising modern, light weight materials with excellent properties, such as: high hardness and strength at ambient and elevated temperatures, good wear resistance, and high modulus of elasticity. Currently, the use of MMCs is limited predominantly to the military and the aerospace industry. However, the penetration of these materials has already begun also in civilian applications. Among several manufacturing procedures of discontinuously reinforced (DR) Al/SiC MMCs, a direct incorporation of the reinforcement (SiC particles, platelets or whiskers) into the molten Al alloy during direct vertical continuous (DC) casting of billets is the most promising and probably the cheapest industrial manufacture technology of Al/SiC composites. The procedure is already developed on the industrial scale; however, the use, as well as properties of cast composites important for further forming to near net shape products are still need to be investigated. Therefore, Duralcan's DC cast composite F3S.20S (Al-9%Si alloy with 20 vol.% of SiC particles) was purchased and analyzed. In this article, microstructural and mechanical characteristics of the cast composite are presented and discussed.