Properties and applications of polyether salt complexes

The physical properties of polyethers have been modified by complexation with inorganic salts. The cation is bound to the polyether oxygen atoms to produce a single phase polymer-salt solution. The salts chosen were generally from the alkali and alkaline earth metals but other salt systems were investigated. It was observed, using the technique of differential thermal analysis, that the complexes gave single, well defined, glass transitions which occurred at temperatures higher than the uncomplexed polymer. [Continues.]