Hydrogel composites of neutral and slightly charged poly (acrylamide) gelswith incorporated bentonite. Interaction with salt, linear polyelectrolytes and ionic surfactants

The swelling behavior in the solutions of sodium chloride, linear polyelect rolytes and ionic surfactants of the composites based on clay mineral bento nite (BENT) embedded in neutral and slightly charged poly(acrylamide) (PAAm ) gels is studied. Negatively charged flat clay particles incorporated into polymer gel adsorb oppositely charged surfactant and linear polyelectrolyt e and attract the charged chains of cationic polymer matrix. The results of SAXS study manifest the formation of lamella structure of the cationic sur factant adsorbed by the clay plates. The gels loaded with the clay show a s trong response to changes in the nature and the composition of the ionic en vironment.