Dense intermetallic and ceramic (alumina based) coatings can be formed in situ during simultaneous combustion synthesis and densification in the field of centrifugal forces. Both microstructure and composition of alumina-based coatings formed during alumino-thermal reduction of oxides can be altered by art introduction of additives such as ZrSiO4, SiO2, Na2CrO4, and carbon. The activation energy and frequency factor for the Ni-Al reacting system consisting of equal atomic amounts of Ni and Al powders with an average particle size of 5 mu m were measured using a nonisothermal technique, which were equal to 1.05 x 10(5) J/mol and 1.017 x 10(8) s(-1), respectively. A mathematical model of in-situ densification of a single-phase combustion product (NiAl) in the field of centrifugal forces was developed and explored.