Methods of making composite ceramic articles having embedded filler

A method for producing a self-supporting ceramic composite structure comprising (1) a ceramic matrix obtained by oxidation of a parent metal to form a polycrystalline material comprising an oxidation reaction product of said parent metal with a vapor-phase oxidant;

• and, (2) at least one filler embedded by said matrix, the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) positioning said parent metal adjacent to a permeable mass of filler and orienting said parent metal and said filler relative to each other so that formation of said oxidation reaction product will occur in a direction towards and into said mass of filler;
• (b) heating said parent metal to a temperature above its melting point but below the melting point of its oxidation reaction to form a body of molten parent metal and reacting the molten parent metal with said oxidant at said temperature to form said oxidation reaction product, and at said temperature maintaining at least a portion of said oxidation reaction product in contact with and extending between said body of molten metal and said oxidant, to draw molten metal through the oxidation reaction product towards the oxidant and towards and into the adjacent mass of filler so that fresh oxidation reaction product continues to form within the mass of filler at an interface between the oxidant and previously formed oxidation reaction product;
• and
• (c) continuing said reacting for a time sufficient to embed at least a portion of the filler within said polycrystalline material.