Abstract: Self propagating high temperature synthesis(SHS) under compression was utilized to obtain an intermetallic compound Ni_3 Al by using elemental powders.The microstructure of the SHS product was observed by optical microscopy(OM) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results reveal that the SHS Ni3Al is a single-phase polycrystalline alloy wilh LI2 crystal structure.Tensile tests were conducted from room temperature to 800℃ both in air and in vacuum.The results show that the SHS Ni_3Al exhibits an anomalous temperature dependence of ultimate tensile strength.The ultimate tensile strength in vacuum is much higher than that in air over the whole temperature range.Fracture surfaces are characterized by the brittle grain boundary fracture and the intergranular fracture mode can not be affected markedly by the test environment.

Key words: Ni_3Al, synthesis, environment, tensile behavior