The aim of the work was to investigate the thermo-electrical properties of low cost and
rapidly produced randomly oriented carbon/carbon (C/C) composite. The composite body
was fabricated by combining the high-pressure hot-pressing (HP) method with the lowpressure
impregnation thermosetting carbonization (ITC) method. After the ITC method
step selected samples were graphitized at 3000°C. Detailed characterization of the samples’
physical properties and thermal properties, including thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity,
specific heat and coefficient of thermal expansion, was carried out. Additionally, direct
current (DC) electrical conductivity in both the in-plane and through-plane directions was
evaluated. The results indicated that after graphitization the specimens had excellent carbon
purity (99.9 %) as compared to that after carbonization (98.1). The results further showed
an increasing trend in thermal conductivity with temperature for the carbonized samples and
a decreasing trend in thermal conductivity with temperature for graphitized samples. The
influence of the thickness of the test specimen on the thermal conductivity was found to be
negligible. Further, all of the specimens after graphitization displayed an enormous increase
in electrical conductivity (from 190 to 565 and 595 to 1180 S/cm in the through-plane and
in-plane directions, respectively).