Mattress comfort layers - polyurethane

[phoenix]

Hi terrabiped,

I would add a “ditto” to Jeff’s comments to your questions. There is definitely a “skewing” toward plushness in the mattress industry these days.

If you are interested in adding a topper to a particular mattress, there is more information about toppers in post #2 here.

Hi Mosqueda,

One concern is that adding on layers can make mattresses less breathable and better at trapping heat, which could be a concern if you live in a warm area.

This would depend upon the type of material being used for the topper, as well as the type of mattress upon which the product is placed. There is much more about the many variables that can affect the sleeping temperature of a mattress or sleeping system in post #2 here.

Trapped body heat inside the mattress could also cause memory foam layers to soften further (memory foam reacts to heat), and could possibly compromise the ability of the said layers to provide adequate support.

You are correct that the viscous nature of visco-elastic (memory foam) is “activated” by heat, but this is mostly accomplished by the body heat of the individual sleeping upon the mattress, not “trapped” heat inside of the mattress. This is a characteristic unique to memory foam (many modern memory foams are less sensitive to heat than previous generations) and this will certainly soften with applied body heat and provide a more plush surface comfort as it becomes warmer. However, this will not have a great impact upon support, as the goal of the upper layers of a mattress are generally geared toward comfort, and memory foam in general is not a supportive material to begin with. But you would definitely “sink in” a bit more on a thicker piece of memory foam that was “warmed up” versus room temperature.

Thanks for your comments!

Phoenix