Refractory transition metal carbides were produced via carbothermal reduction of transition metal halides in a polymer precursor at low temperatures (< 1200 degrees C). This approach was used to generate TaC (T(m)=3883 degrees C), NbC (T(m)=3610 degrees C), and WC (T(m)=2870 degrees C) from TaBr(5), NbBr(5), and WCl(4)/WCl(6), respectively. Solubility of transition metal halides and polymers in the same organic solvents allows for intimate mixing on the molecular level, which reduces the synthesis temperature. Greater than 90% TaC conversion was achieved by exposing a 50:50 weight ratio mixture of TaBr(5) and polyimide (or polystyrene) to 1200 degrees C for 1 h. Even at temperatures as low as 1000 degrees C, the major product remains TaC. The ability to process these high-temperature materials so simply, and at relatively low temperatures, makes them accessible for different applications requiring thermal protection such as coatings for metallic components of hypersonic aircraft, rocket engine components, fibers, or refractory containers.