A composite object for the production of hydrogen from water-reactive aluminum may include a first portion including an aluminum alloy having a non-recrystallized grain structure, and a second portion including an activation metal corrodible to the aluminum alloy, wherein the second portion and the first portion are coupled to one another with the activation metal of the second portion in contact with the aluminum alloy of the first portion at a plurality of points of contact stress, and the activation metal of the second portion is penetrable into the non-recrystallized grain structure of the aluminum alloy of the first portion via the addition of heat.