A process form producing ceramic composites comprising metal carbides, which comprises the steps production of a porous carbon-containing intermediate body, infiltration of the intermediate body with the melt of a carbon-forming metal, reaction of at least part of the carbon of the intermediate body with the carbide-forming metal to form a metal carbide, with at least part of the carbide-formed metal being supplied via at least one wick made of porous carbon material having pore channels and the wick being produced by carbonization of wood materials or of essentially unidirectionally reinforced CFRP, such wicks and their use in the abovementioned process.