Zirconium particles with irregular morphology and broad size distribution were uniformly coated by spherical alpha-Fe2O3 Crystal grain via a facile route without polymer or surfactant as directing agents. The synthesized alpha-Fe2O3/Zr composite particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion X-ray, UV-vis spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The synthesis mechanism could be explained by cooperated heterogeneous nucleation and solid state transformation reaction. The combustion properties of alpha-Fe2O3/Zr composite particles were investigated. Compared with Zr particles, the combustion lasting time decreased from 16 s of Zr particles to 0.13 s of alpha-Fe2O3/Zr composite particles, and the top point of temperature reached in combustion increased from 2004 degrees C of Zr particles to 2378 degrees C of alpha-Fe2O3/Zr particles. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.