AbstractA simple levitation dispersion test has been developed to provide a qualitative assessment of the conditions of dispersion of solid reinforcing particles in liquid metals. The test has been used to assess the degree of dissolution and dispersion that occurs when TiC and Ti(O,C) powders are melted in contact with liquid iron based alloys with the ultimate aim of developing a liquid based route for the production of iron based TiC composites. Dissolution of TiC was found to occur for low carbon and low titanium contents in the iron. Dispersion of TiC was found to occur for high contents of dissolved carbon and/or dissolved titanium in the liquid iron. Under such conditions, excellent dispersions can be obtained as a result of wetting of the TiC by the liquid iron alloy.MST/1476