fluidretaining
Fluid-retaining is a term used to describe the ability of a material to take up, hold, and resist loss of liquid under defined conditions. It encompasses a wide range of materials, including textiles, polymers, gels, foams, and soils, whose structure or chemistry promotes fluid uptake and retention. The key properties are absorption capacity, rate of absorption, and retention under forces such as compression or evaporation. Retention is influenced by pore structure, surface chemistry (hydrophilicity vs hydrophobicity), crosslinking density in polymers, and environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and salinity.
Common measurement approaches include gravimetric tests to determine the amount of liquid absorbed per unit mass,
Materials with high fluid retention include superabsorbent polymers such as crosslinked sodium polyacrylate, cellulose derivatives, and
Environmental and practical considerations include biodegradability, chemical compatibility with fluids, potential for microbial growth, and disposal.