Mg and Zr-based AB(2) hydride composite was prepared by hydriding combustion synthesis (HCS) and the hydriding-dehydriding properties of HCS Mg (20, 40 wt%)AB(2) products were extensively examined. The dehydriding onset temperatures of the HCS Mg-20AB(2) and Mg-40AB(2) composites were 533 K and 493 K, respectively, which were lower than that of the MgH(2). It is suggested that the well-dispersed Zr-based AB(2) phase in a Mg composite prepared by HCS plays a crucial role in significantly improving its kinetic properties. Especially, the HCS Mg-20AB2 composite showed fully activated hydrogenation within the 8th cycle and reached a saturated H(2) absorption capacity of 5.7 wt.% at 573 K in 10 min. In addition, the hydrogen capacity did not show any significant decrease even after 86 cycles. These results display a potential excellence of HCS processing in preparing Mg-based hydrogen storage materials. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.