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 provides a novel amorphous carbon-coated carbon fabric which comprises a single ply of a woven carbon fabric comprising interwoven strands of yarn. The yarn strands are formed of bundles of individual fibers and have amorphous carbon disposed between the individual fibers.The present invention also relates to a method of forming an amorphous carbon-coated carbon fabric. The method comprises the steps of (1) impregnating a woven carbon fabric with a resin; and (2) heating the resulting resin-impregnated carbon fabric to a temperature which is sufficient to char the resin to form a residue of amorphous carbon, thereby forming an amorphous carbon-coated carbon fabric material.