opportunities on combustion synthesizing the MoSi2-SiC ceramic composites in a wide range of compositions under the chemical activated mode were studied. Molybdenum, silicon powders and carbon black were used as initial reagents, and Teflon was used as an activating additive. It was established that Teflon displays a dual (kinetic and thermal) impact on the interaction between reagents. The phasic character of the combustion process evolution, being characterized by low- and high-temperature regimes, was revealed. The end-products were subjected to SEM, XRD and chemical analyses. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.