Aluminum matrix boron carbide (B 4 C/Al) composites with moderate strength but excellent ductility are fabricated by laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) with different laser powers. The microstructural features underlying the outstanding mechanical properties of such fabricated composites have been fully explored. The mechanism of the excellent ductility without notably sacrificing strength is attributed to dislocation formation, grain refinement, and precipitation effect, which could therefore advance the state-of-art in the field of B 4 C...