Fiber as the responsible party

It is through sleep that human beings recover the energy necessary to face their daily activities. This important period of rest is not only an indicator of our mental health and physical well-being, but also influences our immunity and metabolic activity. For this reason, the research on factors affecting sleep quality has been extensive.

One of the factors studied relates to our body’s response to heat, including temperature, humidity and the pressure exerted while lying down. These are influenced by bedding, mattresses and, of course, pillows.

Choosing the right bedding has a direct impact on our mood regulation, as it should allow the absorption of sweat during sleep, ensuring a comfortable sleeping environment. In addition, bedding should have mechanical properties that, through compression, touch, tension and resilience, allow us to maintain a proper posture and a pleasant pressure, thus promoting good sleep quality.

When consumers buy products such as pillows, cushions, soft toys, duvets and upholstery, they are looking for features such as softness, warmth and volume. Therefore, these parameters must be considered during the development of these products.

It has been found that these characteristics are highly dependent on the type of fibre used and the structure of the filling. For this reason, the choice of the right fibre is essential, and this is where polyester hollow fibre comes into play.

Hollow Conjugated (HC) fibres are a type of polyester fibre that has a hollow core, which allows it to better evaporate moisture, retain air and provide thermal insulation, providing warmth without the need to add extra weight. Hollow conjugated siliconized fibres (HCS) are similar, but are distinguished by having a coating with a thin layer of silicone that makes the fibres softer to the touch and easier to slide. The term ‘conjugated’ refers to the spiral shape of these fibres, which gives them a greater volume after the opening process in the machine.

In addition, these fibres can be considered anti-allergenic, as they do not retain moisture, thus preventing the proliferation of dust mites. The siliconised finish also helps to prevent dust attraction. This allows these fibres to be used in textile products that are in direct contact with human skin, such as pillows and also soft toys.

Producers in this market are like alchemists, as they combine different fibres to obtain the product with the most suitable characteristics. During the production process, they pay special attention to the characteristics of the fibre used, such as its length (short or long, depending on the process), resilience and titre. Title refers to the property that determines the feel of the fibre. For example, a fibre with a higher denier will be rougher, while a finer fibre will have a softer feel. Microfibre is considered a high quality fibre for use in pillows as it provides a very similar feel to feathers used as filling. However, it is important to note that the lower the fibre content, the greater the quantity required to achieve the desired volume.

Understanding the importance of the fibres used in sleep-related home textiles, we must make the right choices, from the filling of our bedding to our sleep routines, to ensure a good night’s sleep and, consequently, optimal health conditions.

References:

(The Mechanical Properties and Hand Evaluation of Bedclothes with Hollow Spun Yarn，2019）레이아웃 1 (koreascience.or.kr)

(Fibras，2023）Fibras Siliconadas o que são e para que servem? – FW Fibras