Method of making carbonized composites

A method of producing a fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite, the method comprising:

• forming a polymerized fiber reinforced composite, the polymerized fiber reinforced composite comprising a cured thermoset polymer matrix and at least one reinforcement material,
• wherein a thermoset polymer forming the cured thermoset polymer matrix comprises at least one polymer represented by chemical formula (I) or (II) or (III)
• wherein:
• m and n are each an integer greater than or equal to 1,
• at least one of R1 or R2 comprises an aromatic moiety, and
• X is selected from the group consisting of CH2, NH, O, S, SO2, and combinations thereof, and
• wherein the reinforcement material is carbon fiber or ceramic fiber;
• and
• treating at least a portion of a first face of the polymerized fiber reinforced composite with electromagnetic radiation to raise the temperature of the portion of the first face to at least 800° C. to produce a surface layer of graphitized carbon on the first face of the polymerized fiber reinforced composite and a bulk polymerized fiber reinforced composite representing the polymerized fiber reinforced composite not treated with the electromagnetic radiation,
• wherein the surface layer of graphitized carbon comprises an electrical conductivity of 0.25 S m−1 to 2.5 S m−1;
• and
• wherein the surface layer of graphitized carbon comprises a thermal conductivity that is greater than a thermal conductivity of the bulk polymerized reinforced composite.