Kinetics of the intercalation of several well characterized graphites by aluminum chloride in the presence of chlorine were investigated in the 500 to 660 K temperature range. Temperature was the decisive parameter determining the stage of the intercalation compound. The intercalation rate depended on temperature, on graphite properties, and on partial pressures of aluminum chloride and chlorine. Crystalline perfection and amount of prismatic edges were found to be important graphite properties determining the intercalation rate. With all graphite types, the intercalation rate was linear with time in the early part of the intercalation, i.e. to about 50% of the saturation uptake. Intraparticle aluminium concentration profiles measured by electron microprobe exhibited no significant gradient of the intercalate in the intercalated region, indicating that the intercalation process was not limited by diffusion of the intercalate into the interspaces of the graphites.