Facilitating pitch stabilization in densified carbon fiber preforms

A method comprising:

• infiltrating a densifying agent into at least some pores of a plurality of pores of a partially densified preform to form an infiltrated preform;
• forming a plurality of channels at least partially in the densifying agent of the infiltrated preform, such that each channel of the plurality of channels opens to at least one exterior surface of the infiltrated preform;
• at least partially stabilizing at least the densifying agent to form an at least partially stabilized preform by at least:
• heating the infiltrated preform comprising the plurality of channels at a first temperature, and
• exposing the infiltrated preform comprising the plurality of channels to an oxidizing agent to stabilize at least the densifying agent and form the at least partially stabilized preform;
• heating the at least partially stabilized preform at a second temperature to carbonize at least the stabilized densifying agent to form a carbonized preform.

A partially densified preform comprising:

• a plurality of fibers defining a plurality of pores between the plurality of fibers;
• a plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels opens to at least one exterior surface of the partially densified preform;
• and
• a densifying agent disposed in at least some pores of the plurality of pores and at least some channels of the plurality of channels.