Process for the preparation of a composite material and composite material obtained by this process

A process for the preparation of a composite material having an inorganic matrix and inclusions of carbon-containing material distributed in said matrix comprising the following steps:

• (a) mixing an inorganic frittable powder with a liquid or viscous resin which can be transformed into vitreous carbon by heat treatment, said inorganic powder being selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, oxides, carbides, nitrides, cermets and mixtures thereof, said resin being obtained from phenol and aldehyde reactants, the mixture of resin and inorganic powder thus obtained containing at the most 20% by weight of resin,
• (b) subjecting the mixture of resin and inorganic powder to a first heat treatment performed at a temperature at the most equal to 350.degree. C. for 1 to 3 hours such that the resin is hardened by crosslinking or polycondensation, and
• (c) subjecting the thus obtained hardened product to a second heat treatment performed under vacuum or in a neutral atmosphere at a temperature of 600.degree. to 1100.degree. C. for 30 to 50 hours for transforming the resin into vitreous carbon and thus forming said vitreous carbon inclusions.