Abstract:
Production of composite ceramic articles using a porous bed or preform of filler material (12) with a molten metal (11) in the presence of a vapor phase oxidant, for effecting infiltrating growth of a polycrystalline matrix of a metal-oxidant reaction product into the filler bed (12) or preform, wherein the filler material bed or preform has a first pore system of coarse interconnected pores, and a second pore system of finer interconnected pores defined by portions of the filler material which remain structurally stable in pore-defining arrangement during infiltration.