The article presents the study of factors affecting the ability to control the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of nanomaterials. It is established that there are two steps in the combustion process nanomaterial: burning of surface layer and deep combustion area, which can be considered as the thermal explosion. It was found that the surface roughness and the thermal conductivity of the substrate do not affect the combustion front velocity. The presence of glass transition on the substrate surface also does not affect the velocity of the front. It was established that the parameters of the deep combustion area do not depend on the nature of the initiation of combustion, being the second stage of the development of combustion; in all cases this stage is characterized by the same parameters. When varying the type of ignition source, the length of the surface burning front can vary up to 33%. The time of induction of a thermal explosion increases when the bulk layer of powder ignites from above.