An investigation of carbon nanotubes of various types, purification techniques, functionalizations, and production methods was conducted to determine their potential for integration into polymer composites processing. In this study, Raman Spectrocopy was used to characterize the surface of singlewalled and multiwalled nanotubes, including amino-functionalized, HiPco-, electric arc- and CVD-produced nanotubes. In addition, nanotubes were subjected to LINAC electron-beam radiation at various doses (5 – 1000 kGy) to determine the incidence of surface modification and, resultantly, deformation or destruction to the otherwise pristine graphitic structure. Various environments were used to functionalize the nanotube surface during irradiation. Spectra obtained of nanotube samples provide insight into the level of surface modification of various nanotube types, as well as their potential to form surface radicals. Such radicals could be functionalized to introduce covalent groups onto the nanotube surface, thus aiding in the uniform dispersion into polymer composite systems.