Thermite Compositions, Articles and Low Temperature Impact Milling Processes for Forming the Same

A process for the preparation of composite thermite particles, and thermite particles and consolidated objects formed from a plurality of pressed composite particles. The process includes providing one or more metal oxides and one or more complementary metals capable of reducing the metal oxide, and milling the metal oxide and the metal at a temperature below -50 °C, such as cryomilling, to form a convoluted lamellar structure. The average layer thickness is generally between 10 nm and 1 µm. The molar proportions of the metal oxide and metal are generally within 30% of being stoichiometric for a thermite reaction