Rapidly fabricated carbon/carbon composites with a mesophase pitch binder and graphite flake filler with excellent EMI shielding and thermal conductivity

• A one-step consolidation process enables rapid fabrication of low-density C/C composites with a mesophase pitch binder and graphite flake filler. • The composite achieves an EMI SE of 83.97 dB in the X-band, attributed to open pores and a continuous conductive network. • The material exhibits a thermal conductivity of 191.84 W·m−1·K−1 and an electrical conductivity of 6.50 × 10^4 S·m−1 along the fiber direction. • The composite maintains a flexural strength exceeding 100 MPa with a bulk density of only 1.01 g·cm−3, offering a short-cycle strategy for multifunctional applications.