PRODUCTION OF FIBER-REINFORCED INORGANIC MATERIAL

PURPOSE:To density the texture and improve the strength and quality of a fiber-reinforced inorganic material by partly forming a matrix in a formed article of fiber in a closed mold, releasing the product from the mold and impregnating a gaseous raw material to the whole surface to form a matrix texture layer. CONSTITUTION:A formed fiber article 1 composed of collected plural single fibers 1a is placed in a cavity 2 between the upper mold 3A and the lower mold 3B of a mold 3 and compression molded. The mold 3 is maintained in closed state by fixing the upper mold 3A to the lower mold 3B with bolts and nuts 4. The mold 3 is inserted into a reaction furnace 5, a gaseous raw material is introduced through a gas-feeding port 5a and thermochemical reaction is carried out while impregnating the gaseous raw material into the formed article 1. A matrix 6a is formed on the surface of the single fiber 1a by this procedure to obtain an intermediate formed article 6. The article 6 is removed from the mold 3, placed in the reaction furnace 5 and subjected to thermochemical reaction while impregnating the gaseous raw material through the whole surface of the formed article 6 to form a matrix texture layer 7a in the gap 6a of the formed article 6.