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The synthesis of in situ formed TiB2/Mg composite utilizing the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction that occurred between the molten magnesium and green preforms consisting of Al, Ti and B powders was investigated. The result shows that it is feasible that the smelting temperature of the magnesium matrix alloy is selected at 860 °C, which is slightly higher than the exothermic reaction temperature of 852 °C on the DTA curve, prepared for the SHS reaction in the Al–Ti–B system. An as-cast microstructure of the composite reveals a relatively uniform distribution of TiB2 particulates with hexagonal or rectangular size of ∼2.0 μm. Furthermore, an analysis of the powders extracted from the TiB2/Mg composite confirms that a small amount of blocky TiAl3 phase is also present in the composite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]