Abstract: A carbon friction material, preferably a woven carbon friction material, wherein a binder such as an epoxy or phenolic resin is used to strengthen and impart rigidity to the friction material. The friction material has a graded concentration of the binder such that the friction surface may have substantially no binder. A reinforcing substrate such as a fiberglass backing may also be present. The coefficient of friction at the friction surface may be further increased by, for example, shaving the surface such that a plurality of fibers become oriented in a direction perpendicular to the friction surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to carbon-matrix composites, such as carbon—carbon composites, and a method for forming them by forming a fabric of fusible and infusible fibers which can be processed and carbonized to form a composite. The methods disclosed herein permit preparation of composites which are particularly thin, uniform, and highly pure. The invention also relates to preprocessed fabrics and precarbonized composites, such as those comprising carbon or oxidized polyacrylonitrile fibers and fusible polyacrylonitrile fibers.