Formation of intermetallic compound layer in multi-laminated Ni-(TiB2/Al) composite sheets during annealing treatment

► The preferential formation of NiAl3 was predicted using an effective heat of formation model. ► The formation of NiAl3 and Ni2Al3 was a reaction-diffusion process. ► Growth of the NiAl3 layers occurred mainly at the NiAl3/Al interfaces. ► Ni2Al3 have equiaxed morphology rather than columnar microstructures like NiAl3, due to the low concentration gradients.