A biphasic nanoporous vitreous carbon material with a cementitious morphology characterized by presence of non-round porosity, having superior hardness and tribological properties, as useful for high wear-force applications. The biphasic nanoporous vitreous carbon material is produced by firing, under inert atmosphere, of particulate vitrified carbon in a composition containing (i) a precursor resin that is curable and pyrolyzable to form vitreous carbon and, optionally, (ii) addition of one or more of the following: solid lubricant, such as graphite, boron nitride, or molybdenum disulfide; a heat-resistant fiber reinforcement, such as copper, bronze, iron alloy, graphite, alumina, silica, or silicon carbide; or one or more substances to improve electrical conductivity, such as dendritic copper powder, copper “felt” or graphite flake, to produce a superior vitreous carbon that is useful alone or as a continuous phase in reinforced composites, in relation to conventional glassy carbon materials.