Abstract: A thin strip or foil element of titanium aluminide, nickel aluminide or high strength titanium alloy material is inserted between a metal carrier strip and a metal top lid strip having one end welded or otherwise secured to the carrier strip to be passed between pressure rolls of a rolling mill with the strips and squeezed together with the strips in air at room temperature a plurality of times, preferably with a metal pressure board disposed against the top lid strip adjacent the top pressure roll, to reduce the thickness of the thin strip or foil element by at least 15 percent each time. The element is heated in a protective atmosphere after each reduction in thickness to stress relieve and at least partially recrystallize the element material.