Process for preparing self-supporting bodies and products produced thereby

A method for producing a self-supporting body, comprising:

• selecting a parent metal;
• heating said parent metal in a substantially inert atmosphere to a temperature above its melting point to form a body of molten parent metal;
• contacting said body of molten parent metal with a permeable mass comprising boron carbide and at least one donor material selected from the group consisting of a boron donor material and a carbon donor material;
• maintaining said temperature for a time sufficient to permit infiltration of molten parent metal into said permeable mass and to permit reaction of said molten parent metal with said boron carbide to form at least one boron-containing compound and to permit reaction of said molten parent metal with said at least one donor material;
• and
• continuing said infiltration and reaction for a time sufficient to produce said self-supporting body comprising at least one parent metal boron-containing compound.