Synthetic saponites were suspended in aqueous solutions
of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl and
monooctyl ethers and studied by NMR techniques. Analysis of water
deuteron quadrupolar splittings,
23Na NMR relaxation rates of counterions,
13C NMR relaxation rates, and 1H NMR
self-diffusion coefficients
of oligomers provides a convergent picture on the oligomer interaction
with saponites. Both isolated
molecules and micelles mainly interact with the lower charged
saponites.