An advanced method of producing Al 3Ti/Al composites, self propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) in an Al melt, is described. The mole ratio of Al/Ti in the starting powder mixture is an important parameter for that controls the microstructure of the Al 3Ti compound produced by SHS. When Al/Ti is much smaller than 3/1(the stoichiometric ratio), large needle like Al 3Ti structures will be produced. When Al/Ti is close to or larger than this value, the more favorable homogeneously distributed blocky Al 3Ti will be obtained. But if Al/Ti ratio is larger than 3 75/1, the SHS process will stop because more heat is consumed for heating up and melting the Al powder.