RADIATION ABSORPTIVE COMPOSITES AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION

1 . A method for the metallization of mineral nanotubes, comprising:

preparing a plating bath consisting essentially of an aqueous solution and a metallic chloride;

exposing a plurality of mineral nanotubes to said bath; and

plating a surface of said nanotubes using a non-precious metal catalyst in association with said bath.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein preparing a plating bath includes preparing a bath using deionized water EDTA solution, and a copper chloride in an aqueous solution.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing a plurality of mineral nanotubes to said bath includes:

preparing a mineral nanotube slurry including sodium hydroxide in an aqueous solution, mineral nanotubes, and deionized water;

sonicating the slurry to mix and distribute the mineral nanotubes; and

introducing the mineral nanotube slurry to the bath to create a mixture.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said mineral nanotubes include halloysite nanotubes.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

adding formaldehyde to the mixture; and

increasing the pH of the mixture to catalyze the metallization process.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

applying heat and vacuum to the mixture, and subsequently returning the mixture to ambient pressure;

adding a water-soluble reducing agent; and

stirring the mixture.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising separating metallized solids from liquid in the bath.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the process for separating the solids from liquid is selected from the group consisting of: filtering; decanting; and centrifuging.

9 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

centrifuging the mixture;

removing liquid from the centrifuged mixture and re-hydrating the mixture with deionized water;

repeating the steps above as necessary until the solids have been thoroughly rinsed;

removing the solids using isopropyl alcohol; and

drying the solids.

10 . A method of electromagnetic shielding, comprising:

providing a composition including tubular, metal-coated particles and a polymer dispersion, where said metal-coated particles are produced using an electroless non-precious metal catalyst process;

applying the composition to a surface to be shielded; and

curing the applied composition.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said tubular, metal-coated particles are halloysite nanotubes coated with electroless copper over at least one surface thereof.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further including coating said halloysite nanotubes with electroless copper using a process comprising:

preparing a plating bath consisting essentially of an aqueous EDTA solution and copper chloride;

exposing a plurality of halloysite nanotubes to said bath by preparing a halloysite nanotube slurry including sodium hydroxide, halloysite nanotubes, and deionized water;

sonicating the slurry to mix and distribute the nanotubes; and

introducing the slurry to the bath to create a mixture; and

plating a surface of said nanotubes using a non-precious metal catalyst in association with said bath

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising adding formaldehyde to the mixture to catalyze the metallization process.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

applying heat and vacuum to the mixture, and subsequently returning the mixture to ambient pressure;

adding a water-soluble reducing agent; and

stirring the mixture.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said polymer dispersion includes a polyvinyl material with acrylic resin.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein applying the composition to a surface includes a method selected from the group consisting of:

spreading;

flow-coating;

spraying; and

electrodeposition.

17 . A composite material, comprising:

a polymeric matrix; and

a plurality of metallized mineral tubules dispersed within at least a portion of said polymeric matrix, wherein said metallized mineral tubules are coated using an electroless, non-precious metal plating process.

18 . The material of claim 17 , wherein said tubules include halloysite nanotubules.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said halloysite nanotubules include metallic copper on a surface thereof.

20 . The material of claim 17 , wherein said polymeric matrix includes an acrylic urethane latex paint.

21 . The material of claim 20 , wherein said acrylic urethane latex paint is applied to the surface of an object.

22 . The material of claim 17 , wherein the material is formed into a component using a process selected from the group consisting of: molding, compounding, extrusion, co-extrusion, rotomolding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, calendaring, matched-die molding, hand lay-up, filament winding, casting, and forging.