A new method to fabricate SiC composites by microwave heating SiC preforms is described. Preforms were produced by electrophoretically infiltrating SiC fibre (Nicalon) preforms with SiC powder. Samples were heated to 1600 degrees C in a matter of minutes and held at temperature for 5 min to minimize fibre degradation. To achieve densification, heated preforms required the application of a uniform load. Bulk densities increased from similar to 0.8 gcm(-3) for the as-infiltrated preforms to over 1.9 gcm(-3) for microwave-heated samples with a small applied load of similar to 13 kPa. Microstructural analysis revealed the presence of some pores and cracks in the matrix; however, large areas of dense SiC matrix material are apparent.