Texture and residual stresses present in SiC-matrix composites fabricated according to the CVD/CVI process have been approached via XRD experiments (pole figures, sin 2 ψ and ideal orientation methods) performed on model materials (CVD-deposits on plane graphite or sintered-SiC substrates as well as cylindrical microcomposites). Two potential interphase materials have been considered, pyrocarbon and MoSi 2 . SiC-coatings deposited on plane graphite substrates, from CH 3 SiCl 3 H 2 exhibit a pronounced {111} fiber texture with its axis perpendicular to the substrate surface. MoSi 2 deposited from MoCl 4 SiCl 4 H 2 Ar is not significantly textured and pyrocarbon was assumed orthotropic. MoSi 2 and SiC deposited on plane graphite or sintered-SiC exhibit high levels of in-plane tensile residual stresses (800-1200 MPa). In graphite/MoSi 2 /SiC and SiC/MoSi 2 /SiC plane specimens, the residual stresses are tensile in MoSi 2 (800-1200 MPa) and compressive in SiC (250-400 MPa) whereas in SiC/PyC/SiC, they are compressive in PyC (~90 MPa) and tensile in SiC (150 MPa). In cylindrical 100 μm microcomposites, the axial and hoop residual stresses are tensile in the MoSi 2 interphase (1500-1900 MPa) and SiC matrix (<200 MPa), for SiC/MoSi 2 /SiC, whereas they are of much lower intensities in SiC/PyC/SiC. A good agreement is observed between the residual stresses measured by XRD and calculated by a finite element method.