Method of making carbon fibre reinforced silicone composite material and shaped article obtained thereby

A method of making a fibre-based composite material, the method comprising:

• a) providing a starting material which comprises liquid carrier, fibres and binder, wherein the binder comprises silicone resin and wherein the fibres are chopped carbon fibres which comprise a mixture of three or more different lengths of fibre each within the range of from 6 mm to 48 mm, wherein a first length is within the range of from 6 mm to 18 mm, wherein a second length is within the range of from 19 mm to 36 mm and wherein a third length is within the range of from 37 mm to 48 mm;
• b) dropping the starting material from a height onto a substrate, via a plurality of outlet points, so as to deposit the fibres and the binder onto the substrate in the form of a three-dimensional fibre matrix;
• and
• c-i) curing the binder by applying heat whilst applying a pressure of from 100 kPa to 50,000 kPa, to thereby obtain the fibre-based composite material.