In this paper, intermetallic/metal laminated composites have been successfully produced that utilizes SHS reactions between Ni and Al elemental metal foils. The reaction between Ni and Al started from the nucleation and growth of NiA1$_3$ and was followed by the diffusional growth of Ni$_2$A1$_3$ between Ni and NiA1$_3$. The SHS reaction was thermodynamically analyzed through the final volume fraction of the non-reacted Al related with the initial thickness ratio of Ni:Al and prior heat treatment. Thermally aging these 1aminates resulted in formation of a functionally gradient series of intermetallic phases. Microstructure showed that the intermetallic volume percent was 82, 59.5, 40% in the 1:1, 2:1, 4:1 thickness ratio specimen. Main phases of the intermetallic were NiAl and Ni$_3$Al having higher strength at room and high temperatures.