A method of forming a composite article, the method comprising: i) impregnating an inorganic fiber preform with a slurry composition, wherein the slurry composition comprises a particulate ceramic material, a solvent, and a pre-gellant material; wherein either: A) the pre-gellant material comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, gellan gum, agarose, carrageenan, and combinations thereof; and the slurry composition is heated to a temperature of 30°C to 80°C for a time sufficient to initiate gelation of the pre-gellant material in the slurry composition to form a viscous, jelly-like colloid comprising a disperse phase of the particulate ceramic material to immobilize the particulate ceramic material in interstices between fibers of the inorganic fiber preform and yield a gelled article; or B) the pre-gellant material comprises a monomer that is polymerizable to form a gel; and the monomer is polymerized in the slurry composition to form a viscous, jelly-like colloid comprising a disperse phase of the particulate ceramic material to immobilize the particulate ceramic material in interstices between fibers of the inorganic fiber preform and yield a gelled article; ii) removing substantially all solvent from the gelled article to form a green composite article with the viscous, jelly-like colloid in the interstices between the fibers thereof; and iii) infiltrating the green composite article with a molten infiltrant to form the composite article. i) impregnating an inorganic fiber preform with a slurry composition, wherein the slurry composition comprises a particulate ceramic material, a solvent, and a pre-gellant material; wherein either: A) the pre-gellant material comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, gellan gum, agarose, carrageenan, and combinations thereof; and the slurry composition is heated to a temperature of 30°C to 80°C for a time sufficient to initiate gelation of the pre-gellant material in the slurry composition to form a viscous, jelly-like colloid comprising a disperse phase of the particulate ceramic material to immobilize the particulate ceramic material in interstices between fibers of the inorganic fiber preform and yield a gelled article; or B) the pre-gellant material comprises a monomer that is polymerizable to form a gel; and the monomer is polymerized in the slurry composition to form a viscous, jelly-like colloid comprising a disperse phase of the particulate ceramic material to immobilize the particulate ceramic material in interstices between fibers of the inorganic fiber preform and yield a gelled article; A) the pre-gellant material comprises a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, gellan gum, agarose, carrageenan, and combinations thereof; and the slurry composition is heated to a temperature of 30°C to 80°C for a time sufficient to initiate gelation of the pre-gellant material in the slurry composition to form a viscous, jelly-like colloid comprising a disperse phase of the particulate ceramic material to immobilize the particulate ceramic material in interstices between fibers of the inorganic fiber preform and yield a gelled article; or B) the pre-gellant material comprises a monomer that is polymerizable to form a gel; and the monomer is polymerized in the slurry composition to form a viscous, jelly-like colloid comprising a disperse phase of the particulate ceramic material to immobilize the particulate ceramic material in interstices between fibers of the inorganic fiber preform and yield a gelled article; ii) removing substantially all solvent from the gelled article to form a green composite article with the viscous, jelly-like colloid in the interstices between the fibers thereof; and iii) infiltrating the green composite article with a molten infiltrant to form the composite article.