Compression Property of TPEE-3D Fibrous Material and Its Application in Mattress Structural Layer

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Engineering
• Textile Science

Background:

• Thermoplastic poly(ether/ester) elastomer (TPEE) exhibits desirable properties like resilience and breathability for mattress applications.
• TPEE-3D fibrous material (T_3DF), a novel 3D block material, presents potential for enhanced mattress performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of T_3DF as a mattress material.
• To investigate the impact of T_3DF structural parameters on mattress firmness and comfort.

Main Methods:

• Compression property testing of T_3DF.
• Analysis of T_3DF layer effects (thickness and density) on mattress firmness (hardness and Dsurface/Dbottom).

Main Results:

• T_3DF demonstrated good energy absorption, a wide hardness range (126.94–333.82 N), and high compression deflection (2.79–4.39).
• Mattress firmness is significantly influenced by T_3DF thickness (p < 0.05) and density.
• Optimized T_3DF configurations were identified for both surface comfort (thick, low-density padding) and core support (thin core layer).

Conclusions:

• T_3DF is a viable mattress material, adaptable for both padding and core layers due to TPEE's properties.
• Strategic manipulation of T_3DF thickness and density allows for tailored mattress comfort and firmness profiles.