The self-propagating high temperature synthesis approach was applied to synthesize amorphous boron nanopowders in argon atmospheres. For this purpose, we investigated the characteristics of a thermally induced combustion wave in the B2O3 + α Mg system(α = 1.0-8.0) in an argon atmospheres. In this study, the exothermic nature of the B2O3-Mg reaction was investigated using thermodynamic calculations. Experimental study was conducted based on the calculation data and the SHS products consisting of crystalline boron and other compounds were obtained starting with a different initial molar ratio of Mg. It was found that the B2O3 and Mg reaction system produced a high combustion temperature with a rapid combustion reaction. In order to regulate the combustion reaction, NaCl, Na2B4O7 and H3BO3 additives were investigated as diluents. In an experimental study, it was found that all diluents effectively stabilized the reaction regime. The final product of the B2O3 + α Mg system with 0.5 mole Na2B4O7 was identified to be amorphous boron nano-powders(< 100 nm).