Patent ID: 7172723

Claim:
A method of producing a shaped composite material, comprising the steps of: a) mixing a predetermined quantity of bundles of filaments constituted substantially by carbon and having lengths no greater than 30 mm with a predetermined quantity of an organic binder to give a mixture, b) placing the mixture in a mould of the said shape and simultaneously incorporating in the mixture a plurality of reinforcing fibres which extend along the shape in a manner such as to prevent the propagation of cracks, c) forming the mixture including the reinforcing fibres as recited in step b) to produce a semi-finished product, d) subjecting the semi-finished product to a first firing at a temperature such as substantially to bring about carbonization or pyrolysis of the organic binder, e) subjecting the fired, semi-finished product to a second firing in the presence of silicon at a temperature such as substantially to bring about fusion of the silicon and infiltration thereof into pores of the semi-finished product to produce the shaped composite material.