Method for fabricating high-melting, wear-resistant ceramics and ceramic composites at low temperatures

A method for producing a ceramic/metal composite, said method comprising reacting:

• (a) a fluid formed from melting a metal alloy comprising at least one reactive metal selected from the group consisting of zirconium, titanium, hafnium and mixtures thereof, and at least one non-reactive metal selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, iron, nickel, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, lead, bismuth, antimony and mixtures thereof, said metal alloy having a melting temperature below about 1500° C.;
• and
• (b) a rigid, porous material comprising an initial ceramic phase having a volume, said initial ceramic phase comprising a displaceable metal comprising a refractory metal selected from the group consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum and niobium, and adapted to be at least partially displaced by said at least one reactive metal, for a sufficient time at a temperature below about 1500° C. such that said fluid infiltrates said rigid, porous material and said at least one reactive metal reacts with said rigid, porous material so as to displace said displaceable metal, thereby forming said ceramic/metal composite, said ceramic/metal composite comprising a final ceramic phase having a volume and a metal phase comprising said displaceable metal, wherein said volume of said final ceramic phase is greater than or equal to said volume of said initial ceramic phase, and wherein said ceramic/metal composite has a melting temperature substantially higher than 1500° C.