Abstract: The material comprises fiber reinforcement made of fibers that are essentially constituted by silicon carbide, and an interphase layer between the fibers of the reinforcement and the matrix. The reinforcing fibers are long fibers containing less than 5% atomic residual oxygen and they have a modulus greater than 250 GPa, and the interphase layer is strongly bonded to the fibers and to the matrix such that the shear breaking strengths within the interphase layer and at the fiber-interphase bonds and at the interphase-matrix bonds are greater than the shear breaking strengths encountered within the matrix.

Abstract: A dry pump (32) has an inlet connected to the oven (10) for the purpose of establishing the desired low pressure conditions inside the oven and for extracting residual gas therefrom, a hydrolysis reactor (50) is connected to an outlet of the dry pump in order to receive residual gases coming from the oven, the hydrolysis reactor includes a first outlet (52) for solid deposits or for acid solutions coming from hydrolysis of the gases it receives, and it has a second outlet (54) for gas which is connected to the atmosphere. Gas injection means (46, 48) are located between the inlet of the dry pump (32) and the hydrolysis reactor (50) to prevent any backflow from the hydrolysis reactor towards the pump. Water feed means (74, 76) are connected to the hydrolysis reactor (50), at least via the second outlet (54) thereof, in order to put into solution the acid vapors that come from the hydrolysis reactor, thereby avoiding discharging them in the atmosphere.

Abstract: A composite material protected by oxidation at intermediate temperatures exceeding 850.degree. C. comprises fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix which includes at least one self-healing phase including a glass-precursor component such as B.sub.4 C or an Si--B--C system, together with excess free carbon (C) at a mass percentage lying in the range 10% to 35%. The, or each, self-healing phase can be interposed between two ceramic matrix phases, e.g. of SiC. While the material is exposed to an oxidizing medium, oxidation of the free carbon promotes oxidation of the precursor and transformation thereof into a glass capable of plugging the cracks in the matrix by self-healing.

Abstract: A reaction gas containing methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) and hydrogen is injected into the infiltration chamber (30) in which the substrate is placed and where predetermined infiltration temperature and pressure conditions obtain. The gas entering the infiltration chamber is preheated (by plates 46) so as to bring it up to temperature before coming into contact with the substrate. The residual gas containing the remainder of the reaction gas together with gaseous reaction products is extracted from the chamber. Infiltration is performed at a temperature lying in the range 960.degree. C. to 1050.degree. C., and preferably in the range 1000.degree. C. to 1030.degree. C., under a total pressure of not more than 25 kPa, and preferably equal to 7 kPa to 12 kPa, and the concentration of silicon-containing species in the residual gas is lowered at the outlet from the infiltration chamber, e.g. by injecting an inert gas (via 70).

Abstract: The manufacture of a refractory composite material protected against corrosion and comprising fibrous reinforcement densified by a matrix, comprises a step of forming, either within the matrix or at its surface, at least one continuous layer constituted by a ternary silicon-boron-carbon system obtained by chemical vapor deposition or infiltration. The elements silicon and boron are thereby distributed uniformly, with the boron content in the Si-B-C system being not less than 5% in atom percentage.