In this work, microstructure and defect evolution at a temperature and activation treatment of the TiCr2 intermetallic compound of Laves phase C36-type synthesized in the abnormal glow discharge plasma were investigated. The crystalline structure of the C36-TiCr2 powder crushed by hydrogenation-dehydrogenation (HD) method is characterized by the following lattice parameters: a = 4.932 angstrom and c = 16.059 angstrom. The dilatation of the crystal lattice under the hydrogenation at the HD crushing process leads to the formation of partial dislocations. For the first time ever the experimental value of the positron lifetime of the synthesized compound of the C36-TiCr2 Laves phase, this amounted to (141 +/- 2) ps, established by the positron spectroscopy. The optimal activation parameters of the HD-crushing C36-TiCr2 powder were established: the temperature should be in the range from 450 to 500 degrees C, the exposure time in a hydrogen atmosphere at a pressure of (1-8) atm. must be at least 10 min. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.