Abstract: A product includes a material having aluminum and at least one rare earth element (REE). The material includes the following microstructure features: at least 1 volume % particles of a phase of an aluminum-rare earth element alloy, the particles comprise at least 5 weight % of the at least one rare earth element, the particles have an average aspect ratio less than or equal to 5, and an average interparticle spacing between the particles is less than or equal to 1 ?m. A method includes forming a base material, the base material having aluminum and at least one rare earth element (REE), and working the base material to form a product.