US Patent 9546438 Low z high performance carbon composite materials

A carbon/carbon part and processes for making carbon/carbon parts are provided. The process involves forming steps, carbonization steps and densification steps. The forming steps may include needling fibrous layers to form fibers that extend in three directions. Pressure may be applied to a fibrous preform at an elevated temperature to increase the fiber volume ratio of the fibrous preform. The densification steps may include filling the voids or pores of the fibrous preform with a carbon matrix.