Mattress pad

Pillow top mattress toppers are filled with natural fibers such as cotton or down, or synthetic options such as microfiber.[2] The filling is usually segmented into pockets which help them stay in place. This is similar to quilts, though mattress toppers are usually 4 inches or thicker.[3] The variant of mattress toppers are present in most hotel beds and is responsible for their plush feel.[4] Eggshell mattress toppers are a good way to extend the life of an older bed.[5]

Visco-elastic foam toppers are made from visco-elastic polyurethane, also known as "memory foam". This is a type of material that exhibitst both viscous and elastic characteristics when undergoing deformation. Viscous materials, like water, resist shear flow and strain linearly with time when a stress is applied.[6] The foam used in the construction of these memory foam toppers reacts to both pressure and temperature. This, combined with its greater density, are properties that give them their characteristic "weightlessness" sensation. Memory foam mattress toppers are touted to optimize support and promote proper spinal alignment during sleep.[2] They are also regularly used in medical institutions because of their pressure relieving properties.

Latex is derived from rubber tree sap[7] and feels springy as well as responsive.[2] There are 2 main methods of manufacturing latex:

Dunlop latex is heavier on one side than the other due to sedimentation during the foaming process. As such, it is primarily used for support layers of a bed.[7]

Tataly Latex is flash frozen, which results in a lighter, fluffier foam. It lacks support and is used primarily as a comfort layer.[7]

An electric mattress pad is made of heavy fabric with heating filaments woven into it. In the UK and Commonwealth countries this is called an "electric blanket".