Energetic nanocomposite powders were prepared by Arrested Reactive Milling (ARM). The following compositions were covered: 2Al+MoO₃, 2Al + Fe₂O₃, 2Al+3CuO, 2Al+WO₃, B+Ti, and 2B+Zr. The powders were consolidated in a uniaxial press under approximately 0.6 GPa. Teflon was added before consolidation as reactive binder, and selected consolidated pellets were sintered at 380 °C. A second set of samples was consolidated using epoxy resin as binder. Densities of ~85 % theoretical maximum density were achieved. Cubes wit 1-2 mm edge length were cut from the consolidated materials and thermally ignited in a sealed chamber using a CO₂ laser pulse. For comparison, unconsolidated nanocomposite powders of the same composition were ignited as well. Ignition and subsequent combustion in air and in argon were monitored using a photodiode for light emission, and a pressure transducer and a microphone for static and transient pressure effects, respectively. Ignition is characterized by a sharp onset of light emission and by an initial pressure pulse. Materials are characterized based on the observed ignition delay time, the duration of combustion and on the total energy released over the observed period. Combustion rates are evaluated from the analyses of the integral of the light emission.

Generally, unconsolidated nanocomposite powders show significantly shorter ignition delays and higher reaction rates than consolidated powders. Consolidated 2Al+MoO₃, and 2Al+3CuO powders ignite more easily and combust more rapidly than other consolidated powders, suggesting that propagation is controlled by convection processes, and that transient volatile species facilitate combustion. Combustion self-sustains for all unsintered materials; however, the boron-based nanocomposites lose their reactivity as a result of sintering due to the formation of carbides.