In the present work the destructive hydrogenation method was used for the first time for the improvement of the exploitation properties of the hydriding materials on the example of TiNi intermetallic compound. The Ti-Ni and Ti-Ni-Ni3Ti composites with nonporous nickel or Ni-Ni3Ti matrixes and porous titanium insertions in the quantity from 42% to 46% mass have been elaborated. They have the larger specific mass and volume hydrogen capacities as compared with the initial TiNi. This is reached due to increase in the insertions hydrogen capacity at the substitution of the intermetallic compound on the hydriding metal (titanium) and due to the formation of the nonporous matrixes. Such Ti-Ni and Ti-Ni-Ni3Ti composites were not destroyed during the hydrogenation. During the recombination the intermetallic compound TiNi was formed from Ti and Ni (or Ni-Ni3Ti). It had the austenite structure. The dimensions of the initial TiNi grains double decreased. (c) 2007 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.