The combustion patterns of powder mixtures (100 - X)(Ti + C) + XNiCr, X = 0-20%, and phase composition of synthesis products were studied. The different nature of the dependence of the burning velocity on the nichrome content for blends containing titanium powders with particles of characteristic sizes of 60 and 120 mu m was explained within the framework of the convective-conductive model by the retarding influence of impurity gases released ahead of the combustion front. The conditions for warming up Ti particles before the front were not met for mixtures of fine and coarse titanium powders. XRD spectra of combustion products showed the necessity of using fine titanium powder to obtain cermets without side phases of intermetallic compounds.