Alloying the matrix is a convenient and effective way to improve the properties of aluminium matrix composite materials. However, the extent to which the additional elements, such as titanium and copper, would function is not very clear. The aim of this work was to compare the roles played by titanium and copper in carbon fibre-reinforced aluminium matrix composite wires. The kinetics of the interfacial reaction in modelling specimens were studied quantitatively using the depth profile of a scanning auger microprobe. The tensile strength of the composite wires was tested for the specimens in as-fabricated and annealed states, respectively. SEM observations indicated that addition of copper to the aluminium matrix deteriorates the wettability between the matrix and the reinforcements. TEM observations revealed that no significant interfacial reaction took place during fabrication processing, while Al4C3and Ti3AlC formed near the interfaces during annealing. It can be concluded that addition of titanium reduces the interfacial reaction and improves the tensile strength, whereas addition of copper reduces the interfacial reaction but deteriorates the tensile strength slightly.