Macro-chip reinforced alloy

A powder blend comprising:

• a first component comprising a blend of:
• a first metal particle present in an amount ranging from about 80 wt. % to about 99 wt. % based on the total weight of the first component;
• and
• a first ceramic particle comprising boron carbide;
• and
• a second component comprising a reinforcing chip, the reinforcing chip comprising a second ceramic particle formed of boron carbide dispersed within a chip metal matrix, the second ceramic particle and the chip metal matrix being present in a weight ratio ranging from about 1:7 to about 1:15;
• wherein the reinforcing chip has a length to width aspect ratio ranging from about 1:3 to about 1:1.25 and a length to thickness aspect ratio ranging from about 4:1 to about 14:1;
• wherein the first component is present in an amount ranging from about 65 wt. % to less than 100 wt. % based on the total weight of the powder blend and the second component is present in an amount ranging from a non-zero amount up to about 35 wt. % based on the total weight of the powder blend.