Patent ID: 8142845

Claim:
A method of producing a densified SiC article, the method comprising the steps of: a) supplying a porous silicon carbide preform having a first phase of silicon carbide and an open porosity; b) filling a substantial number of pores within the porous silicon carbide preform with a carbon precursor to produce a filled silicon carbide preform; c) heating the filled silicon carbide preform at a preselected carbonization temperature to produce a carbonaceous porous structure within the pores of the porous silicon carbide preform; and d) contacting the carbonaceous porous structure with a silicon source at a preselected siliconization temperature and a preselected siliconization pressure so that the silicon source diffuses through the carbonaceous porous structure and reacts with carbon contained within the pores of the porous silicon carbide preform to produce a second phase of silicon carbide within the pores of the first phase of silicon carbide; wherein the preselected carbonization temperature and the preselected siliconization temperature do not exceed about 1800° C.