The complex Al/CuO self-propagating reaction involving multi-phase and multi-species dynamics was studied in order to investigate the very high flame temperature around the vaporization temperature of alumina, even under a neutral environment. Experiments were performed on different sputter-deposited Al/CuO multilayers coupling optical spectroscopy with high speed camera measurements. The clear presence of both AlO and Al signatures in gas phase suggests that the redox reaction starts in the bulk nanolaminate, which then rapidly tear off the substrate to continue burning in a heterogeneous (condensed and gas) phase in the environment. The flame temperature increases with the stoichiometry but is independent of the bilayer thickness. In addition to the confirmation of the effects of stoichiometry and the bilayer thickness on the characteristics of the self-propagating reaction, the predominant role of 2 process-induced residual stress was highlighted for the first time; it can lead to an early disruption of the multilayer long before the completion of the redox reaction.