Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling a self-propagating reaction in a particulate medium. The method comprises controlling the boundary heat flux of the reaction to produce reaction waves which travel through the particulate medium undergoing a self-propagating reaction. The method provides a product having a unitary, solid structure with layers of alternating density. Preferably the reaction is a reaction between two metals to produce an intermetallic compound or between a metal and a non-metal to produce a ceramic compound. Nickel aluminide is a preferred intermetallic compound. Also disclosed is a controlled reactive sintering process for producing a finely divided intermetallic compound comprising comminuting the layered body of intermetallic compound.