Science of hydrogels and aerogels

Abstract

Textiles are used for a variety of purposes, from clothing to the medical industry. A crucial parameter affecting the comfort, permeability, insulation, and adsorption capability of textiles is porosity. Among the methods to produce porous textiles, researchers are more likely to prepare composite textiles with other porous materials, resulting in superior properties. Hydrogels and aerogels emerge as ideal candidates for preparing composite textiles suitable for various applications, including thermal insulation, fire resistance, and wound dressings. Engineering the composite with the right porous gel using the right method is often challenging. Thus, it is necessary to understand hydrogel and aerogel science, as well as the relation between their synthesis and structure, to obtain a material with the required properties. In this chapter, the methods used to synthesize different types of hydrogels and aerogels and the relation between the structure and the function are first described. Subsequently, the use of those different types of gels in textile innovations is explored with various examples.