A method of manufacturing an article, the method comprising: providing a first particulate comprising a first reactant that is a metallic element or metallic chemical compound; providing a second particulate comprising a second reactant that is a second metallic element or metallic chemical compound; blending the first and second particulates in stoichiometric quantities to form a particulate blend; preforming the particulate blend to form a preform article; heating the preform article to a pre-heat temperature being below an auto-activation temperature and above a temperature at which a reaction between the first and second reactants can be initiated at the exertion of exogenous compressive stress; and thereafter exerting compressive stress on the preform article at the pre-heat temperature using a compression device comprising a substantially enclosed solid body having a cavity capable of containing the preform at the pre-heat temperature to (i) initiate a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction between the first and second reactants and thereby form a product metallic compound, the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction characterized by a ΔH < 0 and a ΔG < 0, and (ii) at peak temperature, exceed a flow stress of the product metallic compound to reduce porosity of the product metallic compound and thereby form the article, wherein the step of exerting comprises maintaining the compressive stress constant or increasing the compressive stress for a period starting when the auto-activation temperature is achieved and ending when the article has been formed, wherein: at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Ti; and/or at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Ti bonded to another metallic element; and/or at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Ti, the metallic element bonded to a non-metallic element, and wherein the product metallic compound consists substantially of two chemically bonded metallic elements, or the product metallic compound consists substantially of a metallic matrix composite. providing a first particulate comprising a first reactant that is a metallic element or metallic chemical compound; providing a second particulate comprising a second reactant that is a second metallic element or metallic chemical compound; blending the first and second particulates in stoichiometric quantities to form a particulate blend; preforming the particulate blend to form a preform article; heating the preform article to a pre-heat temperature being below an auto-activation temperature and above a temperature at which a reaction between the first and second reactants can be initiated at the exertion of exogenous compressive stress; and thereafter exerting compressive stress on the preform article at the pre-heat temperature using a compression device comprising a substantially enclosed solid body having a cavity capable of containing the preform at the pre-heat temperature to (i) initiate a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction between the first and second reactants and thereby form a product metallic compound, the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction characterized by a ΔH < 0 and a ΔG < 0, and (ii) at peak temperature, exceed a flow stress of the product metallic compound to reduce porosity of the product metallic compound and thereby form the article, wherein the step of exerting comprises maintaining the compressive stress constant or increasing the compressive stress for a period starting when the auto-activation temperature is achieved and ending when the article has been formed, wherein: at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Ti; and/or at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Ti bonded to another metallic element; and/or at least one of the first and second reactants comprises a metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Fe, Mg, Ni, and Ti, the metallic element bonded to a non-metallic element, and wherein the product metallic compound consists substantially of two chemically bonded metallic elements, or the product metallic compound consists substantially of a metallic matrix composite.