Abstract: Combustion synthesis is a high efficient and low cost synthesis method for ceramic materials.The characteristics of combustion synthesis were briefly introduced，and the research progress in silicon nitride whiskers prepared by combustion synthesis in recent years was reviewed.The effects of raw material selection and additives（such as Fe，rare earth oxide，and ammonium salt） on final morphology and properties of silicon nitride whiskers were investigated.Furthermore，the influences of process parameters，especially the nitrogen pressure and bulk density on whiskers growing were discussed.The possible whiskers growing mechanism during the combustion synthesis process was also discussed in detail.

Key words: combustion synthesis, silicon nitride, whiskers, crystals growing