Reactivity in nickel⁻aluminum system was examined for two variants of nickel substrates in terms of the size and shape of Ni grains. The microstructure transformation aroused due to the annealing at 720 °C for different annealing times (0.25 to 72 h) was consequently followed. The sequence of formation of the particular intermetallic phases was given. The interconnection zones were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy supported with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron backscattered diffraction techniques as well as by the transmission electron microscopy. The growth kinetics data for AlNi, AlNiNi-rich and AlNi₃ phases for both variants of substrates was given, indicating the differences obtained in previous works on this subject.
Keywords: Al–Ni system; growth kinetics; intermetallic phases.