Process for the manufacture of a fiber reinforced composite material having a ceramic matrix and preheated carbon fibers

A process for the manufacture of a carbon/ceramic composite material having carbon fibers densified by a ceramic matrix material, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing matrix-free carbon fibers, wherein said matrix-free carbon fibers have previously been heated and cooled;
• heating said matrix-free carbon fibers by subjecting the matrix-free carbon fibers to a thermal treatment in a non-oxidizing environment at a temperature greater than 1300.degree. C. and less than 2200.degree. C. to provide thermally treated matrix-free carbon fibers;
• forming an intermediate coating on said thermally treated matrix-free carbon fibers by chemical vapor infiltration to provide thermally heated coated matrix-free carbon fibers;
• and
• as the next processing step, densifying the thermally treated coated matrix-free carbon fibers by depositing the ceramic matrix material about and in contact with the thermally treated coated matrix-free carbon fibers to provide thermally treated coated matrixed carbon fibers.