Patent ID: 8557907

Claim:
A modified inorganic tubule composition, comprising: a) inorganic tubules; and b) a block copolymer added to the inorganic tubules for compatibilizing the inorganic tubules with a polymeric material, thereby making the modified inorganic tubule composition, the block copolymer having a composition comprising: a first block comprising charged monomers or monomers that upon pH changes can become charged and monomeric units of a vinyl monomer; and a second block comprising monomeric units of one or more vinyl monomers and monomeric units of the charged monomers or monomers that upon pH change can become charged from the first block, wherein the amount of the block copolymer in the modified inorganic tubule composition is between about 0.001% and about 50% by weight, wherein the amount of inorganic tubules in the modified inorganic tubule composition is at least about 50% by weight, and wherein at least one block in the block copolymer tends to attach to and/or interact with the inorganic tubules and at least one other block in the block copolymer tends to attach to and/or interact with the polymeric material.