Abstract–The synthesis of multicomponent ceramic systems by combustion reactions is investigated. These systems can be either composites or solid solutions depending on the miscibility of the individual phases. Representative systems studied include the TiR2–TiC and Si2N4–SiC system for the first case and the Ti(C, N) and SIALONS for the second. Various self-propagating reaction schemes have been considered for the synthesis ofeach particular system. The effects of parameters like particle size of the reactant powders, dilution of the solid phase with a final product (lowering of a combustion temperature) and gas pressure, on the combustion characteristics and especially on the phase composition of the synthesized product arc studied in detail. in order to determine the optimum synthesis conditions for the systems under study.