An experimental investigation on the combustion behavior of micro-sized aluminum (mu Al)-water mixtures was conducted. It was easily ignited and self-deflagrated on mu Al and liquid water when using a paper shell tube. Linear burning rates of quasi-homogeneous mixtures of mu Al and liquid water as a function of pressure, mixture composition, density and environment gas medium were measured. Steady-state burning rates were obtained at room temperature using a windowed vessel for a pressure range of 1-80 bar in a nitrogen atmosphere, particle size of 0.5 x 30 x 30 mu m and overall mixture equivalence ratios from 0.67 to 2.0. The pressure exponent was obtained as 0.47 at room temperature and compared to the case of nano-sized aluminum (nAl) and liquid water. When a wire was inserted into the sample, for increasing local heat transfer, burning rates were found to be faster. (C) 2013 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.