An igniter composition has (i) a source of copper selected from basic copper nitrate, copper oxide, copper hydroxide, and/or copper complex of guanylurea nitrate, (ii) one or more oxidizers, (iii) a binder selected from guanidine nitrate and/or guanylurea nitrate, and (iv) an inorganic fuel comprising an elemental metal or metal hydride selected from the group consisting of: titanium, silicon, aluminum, magnesium, iron, and combinations thereof. The igniter composition may be substantially free of boron or contain minimal amounts of boron. A minimum flame temperature at combustion (T.sub.c) of about 2300K (2,027 C.). Such a mixture may be spray dried to form a powder that is compacted to form a solid igniter composition, such as a pellet or grain. The mixture that is spray dried may have a heat of explosion (HEX) of about 1,000 calories per gram (cal/g). Inorganic fuel can then be added to the spray-dried powder.

A method of forming composite materials includes mixing a first metal precursor with a chelating agent to form a first metal-chelate complex. The first metal-chelate complex is added to a polymer binder having terminating hydroxyl groups to form a polymer binder-first metal-chelate. The polymer binder first metal-chelate complex is mixed with an aluminum precursor. The aluminum precursor decomposes forming aluminum nanoparticles dispersed in a continuous phase material having metallic aluminum cores. At least one of the first metal-chelate complex and the first metal is dissolved in the continuous phase. The aluminum nanoparticles can have a passivating coating layer thereon provided by the polymer binder, or can have a passivating coating layer formed by including an epoxide, alcohol, carboxylic acid, or amine in the adding that forms passivating compound(s) which add further protection that can provide complete protection from oxidation of the metallic aluminum cores by air.

A method of forming composite materials includes mixing a first metal precursor with a chelating agent to form a first metal-chelate complex. The first metal-chelate complex is added to a polymer binder having terminating hydroxyl groups to form a polymer binder-first metal-chelate. The polymer binder first metal-chelate complex is mixed with an aluminum precursor. The aluminum precursor decomposes forming aluminum nanoparticles dispersed in a continuous phase material having metallic aluminum cores. At least one of the first metal-chelate complex and the first metal is dissolved in the continuous phase. The aluminum nanoparticles can have a passivating coating layer thereon provided by the polymer binder, or can have a passivating coating layer formed by including an epoxide, alcohol, carboxylic acid, or amine in the adding that forms passivating compound(s) which add further protection that can provide complete protection from oxidation of the metallic aluminum cores by air.