▎ 摘　　要

NOVELTY - Manufacture of composite matrix involves mixing (116) ingredients comprising carbon nanotubes and one or more inorganic surfactants at a low shear rate to generate (120) a treated mixture, (ii) mixing ingredients comprising the treated mixture and one or more polymers to generate a polymer-based mixture, and (iii) curing the polymer-based mixture. The one or more inorganic surfactants comprise moieties characterized by capability to interact with surfaces of the carbon nanotubes to penetrate interstices of bundled carbon nanotubes, thereby facilitating exfoliation and de-bundling of the bundled carbon nanotubes. USE - Manufacture of composite matrix useful in functional applications. ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of making composite matrices such as rubber compounds at production scale, at high shear rates, with high aspect ratio of the nanotubes and without introducing undesirable impurities along nanotube sidewalls and endcaps. DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for rubber compound, which is prepared by curing the polymer-based mixture. The volume resistivity of the rubber compound is lower than the volume resistivity of a rubber compound prepared using raw carbon nanotubes without the process (116). The electrical percolation threshold of the rubber compound is met at a weight percentage of carbon nanotubes that is lower than the weight percentage of carbon nanotubes at which an electrical percolation threshold of a rubber compound prepared using raw carbon nanotubes without the process (116) is met. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a flowchart of the preparation of the treated mixture. Provision of carbon nanotubes (104) Provision of inorganic surfactant (108) Provision of additive (112) Mixing of carbon nanotubes, inorganic surfactant and additive (116) Preparation of treated mixture (120)