A blend including 50% to 95% reinforcing particles by weight, and 5% to 50% filler particles by weight, of the blend, wherein the reinforcing particles have mean particle size within 70% or less of the mean particle size of the filler particles is disclosed. Such blends can be used to prepare metal matrix composites that can be infiltrated with a binder to form harden composites that can be used for the manufacture of tools.