Would a Dunlop soft latex (ILD 19) feel as soft and plushy as a Talalay med latex (20-28). TY:
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Hi Gootzie,
Welcome to the Mattress UnderGround and thank you for your question.
A soft Dunlop latex layer (approximately ILD 19) will not necessarily provide the same plush surface feel as a medium Talalay latex layer (approximately ILD 20–28) due to differences in latex structure and compression characteristics.
Dunlop latex has a higher density and a more progressive firmness curve, meaning it becomes increasingly supportive as it compresses, also known as support factor or “compression modulus”, when you measure the ILD at 25% compression, it gets progressively higher at the 65% compression. On the other hand, Talalay latex has a more uniform cell structure that generally produces a softer initial response, greater point elasticity, and a more buoyant, pressure-relieving feel. Therefore, a 19 ILD Dunlop layer may feel firmer and more supportive than its ILD rating suggests, whereas a comparable Talalay layer may feel more yielding and plush, with the overall perception influenced by layer thickness, surrounding materials, and the underlying support system. The snugness of your mattress protector and sheets will also affect the feel of the latex layers, regardless of type of latex.
Hope this helps,
Maverick
Very interesting. Thank you.