A method for the manufacture of a carbon composite, the method comprising: forming a compact by pressing a composition comprising carbon and a binder; and heating the compact to form the carbon composite; characterised in that: the carbon comprises expanded graphite; and the binder comprises one or more of the following: a metal; or an alloy of the metal; wherein the metal is one or more of the following: aluminum; copper; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium, the binder has an average particle size of 0.05 to 10 microns wherein forming the compact comprises pressing the composition at a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi) to 69 MPa (10 ksi) and a temperature of 20°C to 200°C so that a volume of the compact relative to a volume of the composition is 40% to 80%; and wherein the heating is conducted at a temperature of 350°C to 1200°C and a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi) to 207 MPa (30,000 psi) so that a volume of the carbon composite relative to a volume of the compact is 10% to 70%; and the compressing or the heating comprises: pressing the compact at a first pressure lower than a predetermined maximum pressure and at a first temperature lower than a predetermined maximum temperature; and pressing the compact at the predetermined maximum temperature and the predetermined maximum pressure; wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is 20°C to 100°C below the melting point of the binder. forming a compact by pressing a composition comprising carbon and a binder; and heating the compact to form the carbon composite; characterised in that: the carbon comprises expanded graphite; and the binder comprises one or more of the following: a metal; or an alloy of the metal; wherein the metal is one or more of the following: aluminum; copper; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium, the binder has an average particle size of 0.05 to 10 microns wherein forming the compact comprises pressing the composition at a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi) to 69 MPa (10 ksi) and a temperature of 20°C to 200°C so that a volume of the compact relative to a volume of the composition is 40% to 80%; and wherein the heating is conducted at a temperature of 350°C to 1200°C and a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi) to 207 MPa (30,000 psi) so that a volume of the carbon composite relative to a volume of the compact is 10% to 70%; and the compressing or the heating comprises: pressing the compact at a first pressure lower than a predetermined maximum pressure and at a first temperature lower than a predetermined maximum temperature; and pressing the compact at the predetermined maximum temperature and the predetermined maximum pressure; wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is 20°C to 100°C below the melting point of the binder. the carbon comprises expanded graphite; and the binder comprises one or more of the following: a metal; or an alloy of the metal; wherein the metal is one or more of the following: aluminum; copper; nickel; tungsten; chromium; iron; manganese; zirconium; hafnium; vanadium; niobium; molybdenum; tin; bismuth; antimony; lead; cadmium; or selenium, the binder has an average particle size of 0.05 to 10 microns wherein forming the compact comprises pressing the composition at a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi) to 69 MPa (10 ksi) and a temperature of 20°C to 200°C so that a volume of the compact relative to a volume of the composition is 40% to 80%; and wherein the heating is conducted at a temperature of 350°C to 1200°C and a pressure of 3.5 MPa (500 psi) to 207 MPa (30,000 psi) so that a volume of the carbon composite relative to a volume of the compact is 10% to 70%; and the compressing or the heating comprises: pressing the compact at a first pressure lower than a predetermined maximum pressure and at a first temperature lower than a predetermined maximum temperature; and pressing the compact at the predetermined maximum temperature and the predetermined maximum pressure; wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is 20°C to 100°C below the melting point of the binder. pressing the compact at a first pressure lower than a predetermined maximum pressure and at a first temperature lower than a predetermined maximum temperature; and pressing the compact at the predetermined maximum temperature and the predetermined maximum pressure; wherein the predetermined maximum temperature is 20°C to 100°C below the melting point of the binder.