The solid-state reaction behavior of the Al-Ti-C powder mixture compacts was investigated. The results showed that the TiC/Al composite was synthesized by the solid-state diffusion reaction in a vacuum electric resistance furnace at a heating temperature of 600 +/- 2 degrees C, with a holding time for 3 h. The TiC particulate was fine and irregular, with a mean size of 2 mu m. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.