Interaction between multiwall nanotubes and intercalating agents (K or FeCl3) was studied using seven different nanotube materials. SEM, TEM, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and other techniques were employed to study the reaction products, It was found that the reaction way is determined by nanotube structural type and that nanotubes may exhibit three types of reaction behaviour: intershell intercalation; no-reaction; and intercalation-assisted break-up.