Kelvin Centre for Conservation and Cultural Heritage Research

The paper explored recent research into the use of blended hydrogels made from konjac gum, xanthan gum, and agarose gel to create highly flexible yet cohesive water retentive gels that are ideal for use on the highly textured surfaces found in textiles.  This research is ongoing and forms a core section of the teaching on complex cleaning that students on the MPhil in textile conservation encounter in their second year.

First published: 10 April 2026