Composites of nickel and Al2O3 with compositionally graded microstructures were fabricated from powders through an empirically determined thermal-behavior-matching process that was designed to minimize processing-induced stresses. Compositions ranged from pure Al2O3 to pure nickel. Specimen geometries included round disks 25 mm in diameter and 5-25 mm thick, as well as rectangular bars 25 mm x 25 mm in cross section and 75 mm long. Several different gradients were produced, including samples with single interlayers, Compacts were formed by cold uniaxial pressing in a die, followed by consolidation through sintering at 1 atm or hot isostatic pressing. Several different particle sizes of nickel and Al2O3 comprised the composite interlayers. The compaction behavior, sintering start temperature, sintering rate, and total linear shrinkage of each composition were evaluated, Careful data analysis, coupled with sintering theory, led to a layer configuration with matched green density and sintering behavior. Thermomechanically matched layers allowed large, crack-free, graded composites to be produced.