Method for joining ceramic composite bodies and articles formed thereby

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

• providing at least one self-supporting body which is made by a process comprising (i) heating a parent metal in a substantially inert atmosphere to a temperature above its melting point to form a body of molten parent metal;
• (ii) contacting said body of molten parent metal with a permeable mass which is to be reactively infiltrated;
• (iii) maintaining said temperature for a time sufficient to permit infiltration of molten parent metal into said permeable mass which is to be reactively infiltrated and to permit reaction of said molten parent metal with said permeable mass to form at least one boron-containing compound;
• (iv) continuing said infiltration reaction for a time sufficient to produce said at least one first self-supporting body;
• providing a brazing material on at least a portion of a surface of said at least one first self-supporting body;
• contacting said brazing material with at least a portion of a surface of at least one second self-supporting body;
• heating said at least one first self-supporting body, said brazing material and said at least one second self-supporting body to a temperature which permits said brazing material to bond said at least one first self-supporting body and said at least one second self-supporting body together.