Structure and shear responses of poly(ethylene oxide)-Laponite nanocomposite hydrogels

Elena Loizou, (NIST Center For Neutron Research, MD)

This research seeks to understand the structure and shear responses of poly (ethylene oxide)-Laponite nanocomposite hydrogels and to relate the macroscopic physical properties to the nanoscopic structural changes. Understanding that relationship is necessary, in order to tailor material properties to specific applications. Information on the structure at rest on multiple length scales was obtained by combining microscopic and neutron scattering techniques. The structural changes that occur in response to a shear field were explored using rheology and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). These structures were examined as a function of polymer molecular weight and polymer and clay concentrations. It was found that the dynamical behavior of these gels is controlled by the ability of a polymer chain to bridge clay platelets, which is influenced both by the length of the polymer and the clay and polymer concentrations.

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