Functionalisation of textiles by inorganic sol–gel coatings

The maintenance and improvement of current properties and the creation of new material properties are the most important reasons for the functionalisation of textiles. The coating of textiles with chemically or physically modified silica sols with particle diameters smaller than 50 nm (“nanosols”) enables the manifold alteration of their physico-mechanical, optical, electrical and biological properties. Thus the protection of textiles against destruction and the creation of new advantageous functions can be realised. Prospective new products to be developed include textiles with water, oil and soil repellency and with antimicrobial properties. This article discusses recent results from applying modified silica nanosols to the functionalisation of textiles.