Functional Properties of Hydrogels and Aerogels in Textiles

Abstract

Incorporating hydrogels and aerogels into textiles can enhace their functionality, making them more valuable. These materials offer benefits such as moisture control, temperature regulation, antibacterial properties, flame retardancy, and biodegradability. Hydrogels are highly absorbent and keep fabrics dry, while aerogels provide lightweight insulation. This chapter explores their integration techniques, the tools required, and how they improve textile performance. It also provides an overview of the different methods used to incorporate hydrogels and aerogels into textiles to improve their physical and chemical properties, followed by a different analysis to detect the influence of hydrogels and aerogels on the textile properties.