From the editor´s desk

This issue features five articles, the first of which is "Clay-Containing Polymeric Nanocomposites and Their Properties" by Leszek Utracki. The aim of this article is to describe the ingredients that enter into polymeric nanocomposites (PNCs), how these ingredients are prepared, and what effect elements of their structure have on their overall performance. Most PNCs comprise at least three components- polymeric matrix, nanofiller, and compatibilizer- and there is a great diversity of materials within each of these categories. Nanodielectrics are being developed for use in capacitors, power cables, electrical machines, and transformers. Because these materials are produced on an industrial scale, the principal PNCs are based on thermoplastics, and the nanofillers are either lamellar or platy in structure.