Abstract: Method/apparatus for making a composite wherein reinforcement or filler material, such as, for example, ceramic fibers or whiskers, are confined in a microwave-transparent envelope, the reinforcement or filler material is microwave heated, and a gaseous reactant stream is flowed through the envelope so as to infiltrate interstices of the heated reinforcement or filler material and chemically vapor deposit a matrix, such as a ceramic matrix, from the interior toward the exterior of the heated material. The envelope imparts a desired shape and size to the composite. After infiltration, the envelope typically is removed from the composite.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of articles exhibiting high mechanical strengths which are relatively insensitive to changes in relative humidity. The articles consist essentially of organic and/or inorganic fibers and a binder, the binder being composed of the product of reaction between an organic polycation, and/or an aminosilane, and/or an organic chrome complex and crystals of a lithium and/or sodium water-swelling mica selected from the group of fluorhectorite, hydroxyl hectorite, boron fluorphlogopite, hydroxyl boron phlogopite, and solid solutions among those and between those and other structurally-compatible species selected from the group of talc, fluortalc, polylithionite, fluorpolythionite, phlogopite, and fluorphlogopite.