Abstract: Molded articles of carbon or graphite suitable as heat absorbing or friction elements in brakes for jet aircraft are made by coating devolatilized carbon particles with a phenolic resin, especially boronated phenolic resin, reducing the volatile content of the coated carbon to below a critical value, mixing these with a resin coated or uncoated powdered abrasive, molding under critical pressures and temperatures, and then post-curing the resin and carbonizing and optionally graphitizing the product according to a schedule whereby delamination is avoided.