A method for forming a high temperature coating includes applying carbon powder to a surface of a carbon/carbon (C/C) composite substrate to force the carbon powder into one or more surface voids of the surface of the C/C composite substrate. The carbon powder has a substantially same composition and morphology as a surface portion of the C/C composite substrate. The method includes applying a metal slurry to the surface of the C/C composite substrate following the application of the carbon powder and reacting a metal of the metal slurry with carbon of the carbon powder and carbon of the surface portion of the C/C composite substrate to form a metal-rich antioxidant layer of a metal carbide on the C/C composite substrate.