Patent ID: 7601421

Claim:
A method comprising the steps of: a) dispersing functionalized CNTs in a solvent to form a dispersion; wherein the functionalized CNTs comprise oxidized, fluorinated CNTs; wherein the oxidized, fluorinated CNTs are prepared by a process comprising: a1) oxidizing unfunctionalized CNTs to form oxidized CNTs comprising opened ends; wherein the opened ends comprise carboxylic acid groups; and a2) fluorinating the oxidized CNTs to form the oxidized, fluorinated CNTs; wherein the fluorinating step is conducted after the oxidizing step; and wherein the fluorinating step comprises attaching fluorine moieties to sidewalls of the oxidized CNTs; b) adding an epoxy resin to the dispersion to form a mixture; c) removing the solvent from the mixture to form a substantially solvent-free mixture; d) adding a curing agent to the substantially solvent-free mixture; and e) curing the substantially solvent-free mixture to form a CNT-epoxy composite; wherein the functionalized CNTs are dispersed and integrated in the CNT-epoxy composite.