Abstract
In order to investigate the possibility of Ni-Al based intermetallics coating onto aluminum substrate, the coating process for induction heating has been evaluated by microscopically analyzing the intermetallic layers coated at temperatures lower than the melting temperature of aluminum. The coating layers were divided into two parts with different microstructure along the depth. Hard $NiAl_3$ layer was found at lower parts of the coatings near the interface with aluminum substrate. This layer was formed by the diffusion of aluminum atoms from the substrate into the coating layer across the interface during the induction heating. Meanwhile, at the upper parts of the coating near the surface, a large amount of un-reacted Ni was still remained and surrounded by several Ni-Al based intermetallic compounds, such as $Ni_3Al$, NiAl and $Ni_2Al_3$ formed by the lattice diffusion.