The present invention relates to a stepwise method for the production of titanium-aluminum compounds and some titanium alloys and titanium-aluminum inter-metallic compounds and alloys. In a first step an amount of aluminum is mixed with an amount of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and then an amount of titanium chloride (TiCl4) is added to the mixture. The mixture is heated to a temperature of less than 220° C. to form a product of TiCl3, aluminum and AlCl3. In a second step, more aluminum can be added if required, and the mixture heated again to a temperature above 900° C. to form titanium-aluminum compounds. This method results in the production of powdered forms of titanium-aluminum compounds with controllable composition. Suitable reactor apparatus is also described.