TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The matrix polymer comprises polyester. The polyester can be poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate) or amorphous glycol modified poly(ethylene terephthalate). The hydrophilic block comprises poly(alkylene oxide), poly 6,(2-ethyloxazolines), poly(ethyleneimine)l, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly(vinyl alcohol), polyacrylamides, polyacrylonitrile, polysaccharides, dextrans, or polyvinyl acetate. The matrix compatible bock consists of polyester, acrylic, amide, polypropiolactone, polybeta-butyrolactone, poly delta-valerolactone, poly-epsilon-caprolactam, or polycaprolactone. The block copolymer comprises three or two blocks. The block copolymer has structure of A-B-A or A-B.A = hydrophilic member, which can be poly(alkylene oxide), poly 6(2-ethyloxazolines), poly(ethyleneimine), poly(vinylpyrrolidone, poly(vinyl alcohol) polyacrylamides, polyacrylonitrile, polysaccharides, or dextrans;B = polyester, acrylic, amide, polypropiolactone, poly beta-butyrolactone, poly-delta-valerolactone, poly-epsilon- caprolactam, or polycaprolactone.Preferred Compositions: The weight ratio of clay to block copolymer is 1:99 to 99:1 (preferably 80:20 to 60:40.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Components: The clay comprises optionally synthesized smectite clay, or double hydroxide clay. Preferred Parameters: The clay has aspect ratio of greater than 10:1. EXAMPLE - A sodium cloisite clay and poly(ethylene oxide-b-caprolactone) in weight ratio of 12.5:87.5 were mixed and heated at 70 degrees C, mixed with spatula, heated on hotplate, and mixed again with spatula and cooled to 21 degrees C. An aliquot of the mixture was placed between two polytetrafluoroethylene or polyimide sheets then pressed with the heated plates held at 175 degrees C. The resulting film samples were analyzed and found the poly(ethylene oxide-b-caprolactone)intercalated the sodium cloisite clay, as reflected in an increase in (001) basal plane spacing.