A method of processing finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) and forming a product comprising: providing a composite material comprising (a) a protective matrix, (b) finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) dispersed in the protective matrix, and (c) at least one of (i) one or more metal compounds (M P C R ) in one or more oxidation states, and (ii) a reductant (R), with said finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) comprising a metal or a metalloid selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminium, vanadium, chromium, niobium, molybdenum, zirconium, silicon, boron, tin, hafnium, yttrium, iron, copper, nickel, bismuth, manganese, palladium, tungsten, cadmium, zinc, silver, cobalt, tantalum, scandium, ruthenium and the rare earths or a combination of any two or more thereof, with the protective matrix comprising a metal halide (M R X) selected from the group consisting of MgCl 2 , NaCl, KCI, LiCl, BaCl 2 , CaCl 2 , BeCl 2 , AlCl 3 and any combination thereof, with the one or more metal compounds (M P C R ) in one or more oxidation states comprising one or more metal halides (M P X) selected from halides of titanium, aluminium, vanadium, chromium, niobium, molybdenum, zirconium, silicon, boron, tin, hafnium, yttrium, iron, copper, nickel, manganese, palladium, tungsten, cadmium, zinc, silver, cobalt, bismuth, tantalum, magnesium, beryllium, scandium, ruthenium and the rare earths or a combination of any two or more thereof and with the reductant (R) comprising a metal reductant (M R ) selected from the group consisting of Mg, Na, K, Li, Ba, Ca, Be, Al and any combination thereof, at least partially exposing said finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) by subjecting said composite material to conditions that result in volatilisation of said matrix; and forming said product. providing a composite material comprising (a) a protective matrix, (b) finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) dispersed in the protective matrix, and (c) at least one of (i) one or more metal compounds (M P C R ) in one or more oxidation states, and (ii) a reductant (R), with said finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) comprising a metal or a metalloid selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminium, vanadium, chromium, niobium, molybdenum, zirconium, silicon, boron, tin, hafnium, yttrium, iron, copper, nickel, bismuth, manganese, palladium, tungsten, cadmium, zinc, silver, cobalt, tantalum, scandium, ruthenium and the rare earths or a combination of any two or more thereof, with the protective matrix comprising a metal halide (M R X) selected from the group consisting of MgCl 2 , NaCl, KCI, LiCl, BaCl 2 , CaCl 2 , BeCl 2 , AlCl 3 and any combination thereof, with the one or more metal compounds (M P C R ) in one or more oxidation states comprising one or more metal halides (M P X) selected from halides of titanium, aluminium, vanadium, chromium, niobium, molybdenum, zirconium, silicon, boron, tin, hafnium, yttrium, iron, copper, nickel, manganese, palladium, tungsten, cadmium, zinc, silver, cobalt, bismuth, tantalum, magnesium, beryllium, scandium, ruthenium and the rare earths or a combination of any two or more thereof and with the reductant (R) comprising a metal reductant (M R ) selected from the group consisting of Mg, Na, K, Li, Ba, Ca, Be, Al and any combination thereof, at least partially exposing said finely divided reactive particulates (R Particulate ) by subjecting said composite material to conditions that result in volatilisation of said matrix; and forming said product. <EOS>