Abstract Pure nickel and Nickel Alloy-X based Metallic-Intermetallic Laminate (MIL) composites were fabricated and investigated for their microstructure evolution, growth kinetics and microhardness distribution across the intermetallic/metal interfaces. Multi-phase layer structure with parabolic growth kinetics is shown in the nickel-based MIL composites. A two-phase eutectic layer along with a uniform layer form in the Alloy-X based MIL composites, which shows a mixed growth kinetic mechanism. The microhardness distribution across the intermetallic/metal interface of the two MIL composites was investigate with respect to the effects of texture and microstructure of the intermetallic phases. A simple intermetallic growth model is developed and validated for predicting the phase formation in binary or ternary reactions for synthesis of these MIL composites.