Abstract: A novel method is disclosed for producing specular surfaces, composed of pure carbon, on carbon-carbon composites of arbitrary weave configuration. The method utilizes a thin sheet of fine grained polycrystalline graphite as a stress-isolating interlayer between the composite substrate and the specular surface layer. The interlayer is bonded to the carbon-carbon substrate with a high char yield carbonizable adhesive. An outer layer of glassy carbon is then applied using a high char yield resin solution or (lacquer). The resulting assembly is then carbonized to convert all uncarbonized polymer to carbon. The interlayer prevents the propagation of the substrate carbon-carbon composite's crack structure to the glossy carbonized polymer surface thus formed, resulting in a high degree of specularity and zero gas permeability.