Abstract: A method of densifying a porous substrate by means of a matrix containing carbon, for obtaining an article made of a composite material, the method comprising the following steps:providing on one side of a substrate to be densified a slip containing submicron carbon powder;establishing a pressure difference to force the slip through the substrate;filtering the liquid that has passed through the substrate to retain the carbon powder inside the substrate; andwhen densification of the substrate by means of the carbon powder has terminated, drying the densified substrate and transforming a carbon precursor introduced into the substrate into carbon by carbonization, thereby binding the powder constituting the matrix.