<p>Newly developed aluminum-based composites reinforced with WB ceramic particles (WB/Al) have garnered significant interest for nuclear shielding due to the effective dual shielding performance of WB against gamma rays and neutrons. However, high WB content increases composite brittleness, creating a trade-off between shielding efficacy and mechanical properties. In this work, a (13WB-2Gd₂O₃)/Al composite was designed and fabricated through a vacuum hot-pressing process. Microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated, with the effect of Gd₂O₃ specifically assessed through comparative analysis against a 15WB/Al composite. The results demonstrate that substituting 2% WB with Gd₂O₃ significantly enhances the neutron (0.025 eV) absorption capacity and material deflection by up to about 418% and 23%, respectively, while maintaining comparable gamma-ray attenuation and flexural strength. Without the addition of Gd₂O₃, the brittle WAl₁₂ intermetallic phase forms solely, leading to a consistent degradation of mechanical properties. This degradation stems from the intrinsically low fracture threshold of WAl₁₂ and the depletion of the aluminum matrix. In contrast, the addition of Gd₂O₃ promotes the formation of the Gd₆W₄Al₄₃ phase, thereby effectively suppressing the generation of the brittle WAl₁₂ and ensuring satisfactory mechanical properties, particularly ductility. These findings indicate that the currently developed composite achieves a good balance between shielding and mechanical properties, exhibiting significant potential in nuclear shielding applications.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>