Reactive graphitic carbon nanofiber reinforced polymeric composites showing enhanced flexural strength

A method of making a composite comprising at least one graphite-carbon nanofiber (GCNF) and a polymer phase covalently linked to a surface thereof wherein said GCNF surface is covalently linked to said polymer phase by at least one linker molecule comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one GCNF having at least one surface suitable for functionalization;
• b) functionalizing said surface of the GCNF;
• c) derivatizing said surface of the GCNF by reacting the functionalized GCNF with a linker molecule having at least two reactive, functional substituents, at least one of said substituents being capable of forming a covalent bond with said functionalized surface of said GCNF and another of said substituents being capable of forming a covalent bond with at least one component of said polymer phase;
• d) providing a polymerization reaction medium comprising said at least one component wherein said component comprises a monomer, an oligomer, optionally a curing or cross-linking agent or mixtures thereof capable of polymerization or copolymerization to provide said polymer phase;
• e) contacting said derivatized GCNF with said polymerization medium under conditions such that the substituent of said linker molecule capable of forming a covalent bond with said at least one component reacts with at least a portion thereof to form said covalent bond;
• and
• f) subjecting the derivatized GCNF/polymerization medium to polymerization conditions to provide the polymer phase of said composite, wherein at least a portion of said GCNF is covalently attached to the polymer phase.