Abstract: After making a carbon fiber preform and prior to completing densification of the preform with a carbon matrix, impregnation is performed with a liquid formed of a sol-gel type solution and/or a colloidal suspension enabling one or more zirconium compounds to be dispersed. The impregnation and the subsequent treatment, up to obtaining the final part, are performed in such a manner as to have, in the final part, grains or crystallites of one or more zirconium compounds presenting a fraction by weight lying in the range 1% to 10% and of composition having at least a majority of the ZrOxCy type with 1?x?2 and 0?y?1.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a friction part out of carbon/carbon composite material, the method including obtaining a three-dimensional fiber preform of carbon fibers impregnated with a solution or a suspension enabling a dispersion of refractory metal oxide particles to be left on the fibers of the preform; applying heat treatment to form a metallic carbide by a carboreduction reaction of the refractory oxide with the carbon of the fibers; continuing the heat treatment until the carbide is transformed into carbon by eliminating of the metal; and then densifying the preform with a carbon matrix by chemical vapor infiltration.

Abstract: After making a carbon fiber preform and prior to completing densification of the preform with a carbon matrix, impregnation is performed with a liquid formed of a sol-gel type solution and/or a colloidal suspension enabling one or more zirconium compounds to be dispersed. The impregnation and the subsequent treatment, up to obtaining the final part, are performed in such a manner as to have, in the final part, grains or crystallites of one or more zirconium compounds presenting a fraction by weight lying in the range 1% to 10% and of composition having at least a majority of the ZrOxCy type with 1?x?2 and 0?y?1.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a friction part out of carbon/carbon composite material, the method including obtaining a three-dimensional fiber preform of carbon fibers impregnated with a solution or a suspension enabling a dispersion of refractory metal oxide particles to be left on the fibers of the preform; applying heat treatment to form a metallic carbide by a carboreduction reaction of the refractory oxide with the carbon of the fibers; continuing the heat treatment until the carbide is transformed into carbon by eliminating of the metal; and then densifying the preform with a carbon matrix by chemical vapor infiltration.