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Mattress comfort components are blended together in varying amounts and thicknesses to change the firmness or plushness of your mattress.

Dacron
This is a non-allergenic, non-animal fibre-fill that looks and feels like cotton wool.  Dacron is used almost exclusively on the most superficial layers of beds, specifically to give ‘body’ to the quilting on the surface of the mattress.  The thicker the Dacron fill, the more plush the mattress will feel.
Dacron flattens over time, but since it has no support function, it will not affect the function of your mattress.

This is important to remember since ALL mattresses will show some degree of body impression over time.  This is normal as long as it remains only in the quilted layers of the mattress.


 PU Foams

Low density, rapid response soft foams are used in both the quilting of mattresses and are also often used as the main comfort component of standard mattresses (those without pillow-tops).


 Wool

Lambs Wool is often blended with either cotton-wool or Dacron to give a thicker more durable comfort layer in some mattresses.  Wool naturally keeps you cool in summer by wicking away moisture and body heat, yet also keeps you warm in winter by insulating against the cold.  It is an added luxury in many mattresses.


 Latex

Slimline slabs of soft latex are sometimes used as a main comfort component, especially in pillow-top mattresses.  If a mattress is marketed as a latex mattress, make sure it is.  It might be that the latex is only used in the pillow top, and the support component of the mattress may still be innerspring (yet it will be marketed as a latex mattress).  Beware of falling into this trap!


 Viscoelastic Materials

Today, true viscoelastic materials are revolutionizing the mattress industry.  This new technology was originally developd by NASA’s Ames Research Centre in the 1970’s to be used in the seats of space capsules so that G-Forces would have a less severe effect on astronauts.  In the last 15 years, Tempur-Pedic has developed and marketed the use of viscoelastic materials in mattresses and pillows and is leading the way in this not-so-quiet sleeping revolution.

Visco material is temperature and/or pressure sensitive.  On touching it, the material moulds to the shape of the body, effectively cradling and soothing pressure points.

Today it is the comfort material of choice for most top-of-the-range mattresses around the world, and can either be used on top of pocket coils, latex or PU foam support components.

There are varying densities and grades of viscoelastic material, allowing customers the choice to pick either low density (rapid response) visco which makes it softer and the perfect choice for lighter frames or those who want ultra-soft mattresses, through to high density (slow response) visco which makes it thicker/firmer to the touch and more supportive of those in need of true joint support and pressure relief.