Patent ID: 8585934

Claim:
A tailored composite comprising: a matrix material; and a first plurality of carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fibers dispersed in a first location of the matrix material and a second plurality of carbon nanotube-infused fibers dispersed in a second location of the matrix material; wherein the CNT-infused fibers comprise carbon nanotubes that are grown in situ on an exterior surface of a fiber material and extend therefrom; wherein the amount of carbon nanotubes in the tailored composite is in a range between about 0.1 percent by weight to about 60 percent by weight of the tailored composite; and wherein the first plurality of carbon nanotube-infused fibers and the second plurality of carbon nanotube-infused fibers differ in any combination of CNT length, CNT density, or CNT alignment with respect to the fiber material to provide a differential enhancement in at least one property selected from the group consisting of mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties in each location of the tailored composite.