Sol-Gel Applications in Textile Finishing Processes

Abstract

In the chapter, sol‐gel applications in textile finishing process such as flame retardancy, water, oil repellency, ultraviolet (UV) protection, self‐cleaning, and antibacterial and anti‐ wrinkle processes are reviewed. Sol‐gel technology is well known in materials, metallurgy, ceramic, and glass industry since 1960 and has been researched in textile industry in the last decade. Sol‐gel technology has some advantages when compared to conventional textile finishing process. Sol‐gel technology, which is a method applied to the inorganic metal alk‐ oxide or metal salts to organic textile materials, could impart the high, durable activity and multifunctional properties to different textile materials in the same bath at one step using low concentration of precursors. In addition, sol‐gel technology presents alternatively eco‐ nomical, ecological, and environmental friendly process due to one‐step application, using low concentration of chemicals, nonhalogenated chemicals, and nonformaldehyde release when compared to conventional processes.