Hydrogel and its applications in smart textile materials
Hydrogels are three-dimensional networks composed of high-molecular weight polymer, water, and cross-linker, which can change their volume under various environmental stimuli. Hydrogels can sense and respond to surrounding changes. In this area, our group focuses on applying hydrogels into smart textiles. By graft polymerization or coating technology, polymeric hydrogels are introduced onto textile surface to form a hydrogel layer on surface of fiber or fabric. It not only improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels, but gift textile materials novel functions including humidity control, fluid retention, environmental response, and thermal insulation, etc.