Book excerpt: Advanced composite materials have been a major research focus for the past forty years. As a reinforcement for conventional materials including glass, ceramics and polymers, carbon has proved to be the most successful. Carbon gives these materials flexibility so that they may be produced in bulk form with a wide variety of properties. Whereas carbon/carbon composites are the most effective materials in extreme temperature conditions. Application ranges from brakes to missile nose cones. Carbon Reinforcements and Carbon/Carbon Composites gives the present state on this subject in comprehensive form, as well as projections for other "High Tech" materials and their application.