Physico-Chemical Properties of Laponite®/Polyethylene-oxide Based Composites.

This review aims to provide a literature overview as well as the authors' personal account to the studies of Laponite® (Lap)/Polyethylene-oxide (PEO) based composite materials and their applications. These composites can be prepared over a wide range of their mutual concentrations, they are highly water soluble, and have many useful physico-chemical properties. To the readers' convenience, the contents are subdivided into different sections, related with consideration of PEO properties and its solubility in water, behavior of Lap systems(structure of Lap-platelets, properties of aqueous dispersions of Lap and aging effects in them), analyzing ofproperties LAP/PEO systems, Lap platelets-PEO interactions, adsorption mechanisms, aging effects, aggregation and electrokinetic properties.

Constant Electric and Magnetic Fields Effect on the Structuring and Thermomechanical and Thermophysical Properties of Nanocomposites Formed from Pectin-Cu(2+)-Polyethyleneimine Interpolyelectrolyte-Metal Complexes.

Applying wide-angle X-ray scattering method, thermomechanical analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry, the structural organization and properties of nanocomposites formed by chemical reduction of Сu(2+) cations in the interpolyelectrolyte-metal complex (pectin-Cu(2+)-polyethyleneimine) under the influence of a constant magnetic and electric fields have been studied. It has been found that the chemical reduction of Cu(2+) cations in the interpolyelectrolyte-metal complex bulk under constant electric and magnetic fields leads to formation of nanocomposite consisting of interpolyelectrolyte complex, including pectin-polyethyleneimine and nanoparticles of the metal Cu phase, whereas nanocomposite with Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles is formed in original state (without any field). It was observed that, under constant field, nanocomposites obtained have higher structural glass-transition temperatures and thermal stability.