Patent ID: 7001556

Claim:
A method for forming a nanotube/matrix composite mixture, comprising the steps of: a. combining an amount of single walled carbon nanotubes with a solvent material to form a nanotube/solvent mixture and mixing the nanotube/solvent mixture for a predetermined mixing period such that the single walled carbon nanotubes are uniformly dispersed in the nanotube/solvent mixture; b. combining an amount of a matrix material with the single walled nanotube/solvent mixture having the single walled carbon nanotubes uniformly dispersed therein to form a nanotube/solvent/matrix mixture and mixing the nanotube/solvent/matrix mixture for a predetermined mixing period such that the single walled carbon nanotubes are uniformly dispersed in the nanotube/solvent/matrix mixture, the matrix material is polypropylene; and c. removing a substantial amount of the solvent material from the nanotube/solvent/matrix mixture to form a nanotube/matrix composite mixture comprising less than about 5% by weight of the solvent material.