A method for joining two or more segments of a bone implant comprises the steps of placing a plurality of thin layers of an intermetallic material between first and second segments of the bone implant and applying a mechanical load to the plurality of layers. In a subsequent step, the plurality of layers are ignited by applying an external activation energy thereto, the ignition heating the plurality of layers to a reaction temperature and causing the segments to become affixed to one another after cooling.
