Method and apparatus for manufacturing an article of a composite material

A method for preparing a composite material with fiber reinforcement which comprises forming a compound material comprising a mixture of a curable matrix forming binder, heat resistant reinforcing fibers, and at least one particulate material, wherein the amount of said curable matrix-forming binder is in the range of from 5 to 50% by volume of the compound material, curing said binder in said mixture by compacting and heating said mixture by simultaneously subjecting said mixture to an externally applied pressure and ultrasonic energy applied by sonic oscillations at a given frequency, wherein said external pressure is in the range of from 60 to 200 bars and greater than an internal pressure of said mixture of compound material undergoing compaction and heating, wherein the amplitude of said sonic oscillations applied to said mixture is reduced sufficient to overcome the internal frictional forces between said reinforcing fibers and said at least one particulate material of said mixture undergoing compaction and heating without completely attenuating the sonic oscillations, and wherein an amount of said ultrasonic energy is dissipated into heat sufficient to ensure formation of a coherent, cured matrix binder in said compound material, and then recovering the resulting composite material.