Insulation materials suited to high temperature applications, such as the
insulation of furnaces, are formed from a mixture of pitch carbon fibers,
such as isotropic pitch carbon fibers, and a binder comprising a solution
of sugar in water. The sugar solution is preferably at a concentration of
from 20 60% sucrose to yield a low density material having high flexural
strength and low thermal conductivity when carbonized to a temperature of
about 1800.degree. C.