Abstract: In this investigation, the Gleeble 1500 test simulator was used for carrying out experiments of joining by the pressurized combustion synthesis (PCS). The intermetallic compound Ni3Al was bonded by us- ing the exothermic synthesis reaction of a mixture of element Ni and Al poweders pre - compacted as the interlayer material.Effects of the key process parameters, such as the heating rate and joining tem- perature as well as the hold time, on the joint formation and microstructural homogeneity were studied. The feasibility of the addition of Al2O3 particles in the joint interlayer for producing intermetallic -ma- trix composite joints are also explored. Results show that the microstructrual homogeneity in the synthe- sized joint interlayer was significantly influenced by the joining process paramenters.The fully synthesized Ni2Al joints exhibited an average tensile strength of 486MPa at R. T. With the addition of Al2O3 ce- ramic particles in the reactants, joints with reighrced Ni3Al - matrix composite interlayer were ob- tained.

Key words: combustion synthesis, PCS joining, Ni_3Al - matrix composite