Solid state room temperature exchange reactions of iron nitride, fluoride and cementite with silicon or aluminium, carbon and chromium respectively are described. Reactions are driven by ball milling powder mixtures of the compound and the exchange element at room temperature. In the different systems the formation of Si 3N 4, AIN, carbon fluorides and an amorphous (Fe,Cr)C alloy is observed. Nanocomposite materials are synthesized in this way. X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used to characterize the powders before and after processing.