Market-established reference
A format, material, construction, or term documented in the market or a primary source. It is reference context—not ProtectMySleep availability.
Tool 02 / Material & Construction Knowledge Base
From product format to finished-product evidence.
A material name belongs in a hierarchy. First identify the product and each component’s role; then record generic fibre, fabric structure, pad fill, barrier, bonding, assembly, and finally the evidence for the complete article.
- Record
- PMS-KB-MAT-001
- Version
- 1.0
- Published
- Modified
- Reviewed
- Publisher
- ProtectMySleep Category Lab
Research coverage is not a supply statement.Every candidate below is a market-established reference at E0 unless a separate named record says “ProtectMySleep commercially confirmed.” The Range expresses product-format design space; it does not make every researched material, construction, claim, or certificate available.
How evidence states work →Status vocabulary
Three labels prevent research from becoming an accidental offer.
Commercial confirmation belongs to a named, dated product record— never to a generic material page or broad category lane.
ProtectMySleep design space — not commercially confirmed
A format or technical route being organized for possible programs. No SKU, material, partner, MOQ, price, lead time, certificate, or claim is implied.
ProtectMySleep commercially confirmed
Reserved for a named product record tied to a released BOM, qualified supply route, commercial terms, evidence scope, revision, and confirmation date.
Authority hierarchy
Nine levels—from the article to the evidence record.
Moving out of order creates category errors: a brand becomes a fibre, a structure becomes a BOM, or a film becomes a finished- product claim.
01Hierarchy level
Product format
Is the article a mattress protector, protection-first pad, encasement, pillow protector, or another clearly bounded format?
Required output
Primary job, protected object, functional thickness, classification boundary, and intended use.
02Hierarchy level
Component role
Which component is the face, ground, fill, barrier, bond, skirt, elastic, thread, seam, zipper, terminal, or label?
Required output
A component map that prevents one attractive material name from standing in for the whole product.
03Hierarchy level
Generic fibre
What are the generic fibre names and percentages for each relevant textile component?
Required output
Cotton, polyester, lyocell, modal, rayon/viscose, wool, or a disclosed blend—not only a brand or marketing descriptor.
04Hierarchy level
Fabric structure
How are the fibres or yarns converted into the face or supporting textile?
Required output
Terry, jersey, woven, jacquard, knit, nonwoven, or another stated structure with mass and construction details.
05Hierarchy level
Fill — pad only
Does a protection-first mattress pad contain a distinct cushioning or absorbent fill?
Required output
Generic fill identity, mass, loft, distribution, migration control, quilting pattern, and classification review.
06Hierarchy level
Barrier form / chemistry
Is the barrier a film, coating, densely constructed textile, or another defined form—and what is its exact chemistry and grade?
Required output
Polymer family, grade, thickness, architecture, placement, and the properties that still require measurement.
07Hierarchy level
Bonding
How is the barrier or supporting layer attached, and what changes after heat, flexing, moisture, and the intended wash profile?
Required output
Adhesive chemistry, coverage, coat weight, process window, bond strength, and aging plan.
08Hierarchy level
Assembly / closure
How do pattern, binding, seams, needle holes, elastic, zipper chain, terminal, and installation fit affect the complete article?
Required output
A three-dimensional failure-path map and controlled assembly specification.
09Hierarchy level
Finished-product evidence
Which property, method, sample scope, conditions, wash state, result, limitation, report, and revision support the exact wording?
Required output
A product evidence record. No lower level can be used as a shortcut to a finished-product claim.
Candidate matrix
Generic fibres, structures, fills, barriers, bonds, and assembly.
Use the filters to compare the role-specific questions. No row is a complete BOM, commercial offer, or achieved property.
| Role / candidate | Evidence state | Potential value | What can go wrong | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre / identityCotton | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A generic natural-fibre identity that may be used in face, ground, or selected fill components. | Cotton does not mean terry, organic, absorbent, cooling, waterproof, low-shrinkage, or commercially available. | Component-level fibre percentage; yarn; structure; finish; origin/organic claim scope; shrinkage; drying; complete-product result. |
| Fibre / identityPolyester | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A generic manufactured-fibre identity used across face, ground, skirt, fill, thread, and other components. | Polyester does not identify denier, structure, finish, recycled content, microfiber construction, hand, airflow, or wash result. | Component-level percentage; yarn/filament and denier; recycled-claim evidence if used; structure; finish; dimensional and wash performance. |
| Fibre / identityLyocell | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A generic manufactured cellulosic-fibre identity that may be engineered into different yarns, structures, blends, and components. | Generic lyocell does not establish TENCEL™ brand identity, cooling, breathability, traceability, environmental benefit, waterproofness, or certification. | Generic fibre declaration; percentage; supplier; yarn; structure; finish; wash change; brand licence only if a brand claim will be used. |
| Fibre / identityModal | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A generic manufactured cellulosic-fibre identity used in textile blends and structures. | Modal is not a synonym for TENCEL™ Modal and does not itself prove softness, durability, moisture performance, cooling, or environmental benefit. | Generic fibre declaration; percentage; supplier; yarn; structure; finish; care change; trademark authorization where applicable. |
| Fibre / identityRayon / viscose made from bamboo | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A manufactured cellulosic-fibre disclosure in which bamboo may identify the source material when the lawful generic name remains clear. | FTC guidance says most processed “bamboo” textiles must not be called bamboo fibre. Plant source does not preserve natural antimicrobial properties or prove a green claim. | Proper generic name and percentage; wording of the bamboo-source disclosure; supplier evidence; any separate environmental or antimicrobial substantiation. |
| Fibre / identityWool | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A regulated natural-fibre identity that may be considered in selected face or pad-fill constructions. | Wool identity does not establish fill mass, loft, felt/knit/woven structure, washability, flame compliance, temperature outcome, or commercial availability. | Component percentage and Wool Act review; grade; structure; fill mass where used; migration; care; shrinkage/felting; classification and finished-product evidence. |
| Fibre / identityFibre blends | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | Two or more generic fibres can be combined to balance process, hand, dimensional, drying, cost, or other engineering targets. | A blend name without percentages and component mapping is not a complete identity. One fibre’s reputation cannot be applied to the whole finished article. | Percentages by component; loop and ground yarn where relevant; production tolerances; test scope; care and finished-product change. |
| Fibre / identityTENCEL™ branded lyocell or modal ingredient | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | TENCEL™ is Lenzing’s textile fibre brand; Lenzing offers TENCEL™ Lyocell, TENCEL™ Modal, and TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament. | TENCEL™ is not a generic fibre name. A generic lyocell or modal declaration does not authorize the trademark or transfer fibre-level benefits to the finished product. | Generic fibre content; Lenzing traceability/Fiber Identification; certified component route; product licence; approved trademark use; finished-product evidence. |
| StructureTerry structure | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A looped surface construction that can be engineered for hand, uptake, and surface texture. | Terry is a structure, not a fibre. Loop yarn and ground yarn may differ; absorbency does not establish liquid containment. | Loop and ground fibre map; loop geometry; GSM; uptake/rewet; snagging; shrinkage; drying; complete-laminate and wash-aged results. |
| StructureJersey structure | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A knit construction route that can support stretch, drape, and low-profile faces or skirts. | Jersey is not a fibre and does not automatically mean soft, cool, breathable, stable, or suitable for lamination. | Generic fibre content; knit gauge; weight; stretch/recovery; curling; shrinkage; pilling; laminate distortion; care change. |
| StructureJacquard structure | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A pattern-forming woven or knit construction that can create visual or tactile differentiation. | Jacquard is not a fibre and says nothing by itself about fibre content, barrier placement, snagging, airflow, or durability. | Woven/knit route; generic fibres and percentages; repeat; mass; dimensional stability; abrasion/snagging; lamination and care results. |
| StructureQuilted construction | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | Stitching can stabilize face, backing, and optional fill while creating a defined surface pattern. | Quilted is neither a fibre nor a complete BOM. Needle paths can affect barrier design, and added fill can change mattress-pad classification analysis. | Layer sequence; fibre map; fill; stitch pattern/density; needle/thread; migration; liquid path; wash change; regulatory classification. |
| StructureMicrofiber descriptor | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A fine-fibre/yarn descriptor used across multiple fibres and fabric constructions. | “Microfiber” is not a complete generic-fibre declaration or BOM and does not establish density, pore distribution, allergen performance, hand, or durability. | Generic fibre and percentage; denier/dtex definition; yarn and structure; mass/density; finish; intended property and applicable test. |
| Fill (pad only)“Down-alternative” fill | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A market descriptor for non-down cushioning fill used in some protection-first mattress pads. | “Down-alternative” is not a generic fibre name or complete fill specification and does not prove warmth, cooling, loft retention, hypoallergenicity, or wash durability. | Generic fill fibre(s) and percentages; form; mass per area; loft; distribution; migration; quilting; care aging; classification and finished-product evidence. |
| Fill (pad only)Cotton, wool, or blended pad fill | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A distinct fill layer can add light cushioning or absorbent capacity to a protection-first mattress pad. | The fibre name does not establish fill form, evenness, migration, temperature outcome, care durability, flame compliance, or suitability. | Generic fibre map; fill mass and distribution; needling/bonding; quilting; migration; wash change; classification and performance on the complete pad. |
| BarrierPU / TPU film or coating | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A broad flexible-barrier family with multiple chemistries, grades, film structures, thicknesses, and coating routes. | PU or TPU does not automatically prove waterproofness, water resistance, breathability, quietness, cooling, medical grade, hydrolysis resistance, or wash durability. | Exact chemistry/grade; form; thickness/coat weight; hydrostatic resistance; WVTR; air permeability; sound protocol; hydrolysis; bond and wash aging. |
| BarrierPE film, including selected porous structures | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A barrier family that may be engineered in different film architectures and laminate systems. | The family name does not establish liquid resistance, vapor transmission, air flow, elasticity, heat tolerance, pore stability, washability, or comfort. | Exact grade; architecture; thickness; elongation; barrier and transmission methods; heat/flex aging; laundering; laminate compatibility. |
| BarrierVinyl / PVC | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | A barrier family considered in selected wipe-clean or institutional constructions. | Hand, sound, flex, additives, regional chemical limits, end use, cleaning compatibility, and availability require formulation-specific review. | Full formulation; restricted substances; thickness; flex and sound; weld/bond window; barrier result; chemical, aging, and care compatibility. |
| BondingAdhesive, hot-melt, or other lamination system | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | Joins the face, barrier, backing, or supporting layer into a laminate with a defined process window. | A good flat-film result can be lost through incomplete coverage, strike-through, stiffness, delamination, hydrolysis, heat, flexing, or washing. | Chemistry; coat pattern/weight; cure; nip/temperature window; peel/bond strength; flex/hydrolysis; wash-aged complete-laminate performance. |
| AssemblyPattern, seams, elastic, zipper, terminal, and closure | E0 · ConceptMarket-established referenceNot commercially confirmed by ProtectMySleep | Converts materials and laminates into a fitted, removable, or fully enclosed three-dimensional article. | Needle holes, bindings, differential shrinkage, corners, zipper terminals, fit error, and repeated installation stress can become failure paths. | Pattern/tolerances; stitch, needle and thread; seam path; elastic retention; zipper/terminal challenge; fit; care aging; full-product result. |
No automatic claim transfer
Material identity cannot do the finished product’s work.
Treat these as hard publication boundaries unless the exact complete article has evidence appropriate to the exact wording.
Barrier name ≠ liquid claim
PU, TPU, PE, PVC, a coating, or a dense textile cannot by name prove waterproof or water-resistant performance. Grade, form, placement, bonding, seams, closures, sample state, method, result, and limits matter.
Fibre or structure ≠ climate outcome
Cotton, polyester, lyocell, modal, wool, terry, jersey, jacquard, microfiber, or a film family cannot by identity prove breathable, quiet, cooling, temperature-regulating, or more comfortable sleep.
Plant source ≠ green claim
“Bamboo,” wood source, natural fibre, a brand, or one certified component cannot by itself support a broad green, eco-friendly, biodegradable, lower-impact, or finished-product certification claim.
Construction ≠ health or pest claim
Fine yarn, pore size, dense weave, zipper, encasement, antimicrobial treatment, or any material story cannot by itself support anti-mite, allergen, bed-bug, hygiene, medical, prevention, treatment, or relief wording.
Primary-source rules
Identity, trademarks, and claims stay in separate columns.
These sources control or document specific boundaries. They do not endorse ProtectMySleep or prove a named finished product.
Start with generic fibre identity and percentages.
For covered U.S. textile products, FTC rules require generic fibre names and percentages by weight, plus the responsible business and country of processing or manufacture. A structure name or brand does not replace the generic declaration.
Open the official sourceUse rayon/viscose language where the fibre is regenerated.
FTC guidance says a manufactured fibre made from bamboo should use its proper generic name, such as rayon or “rayon made from bamboo,” unless competent evidence establishes actual bamboo fibre. Plant source does not retain an automatic antimicrobial claim.
Open the official sourceSeparate the ingredient brand from the generic fibre.
Lenzing identifies TENCEL™ as its textile fibre brand and offers TENCEL™ Lyocell, TENCEL™ Modal, and TENCEL™ Lyocell Filament. Generic lyocell or modal is not automatically a TENCEL™ branded ingredient.
Open the official sourceDo not infer a broad environmental benefit.
FTC guidance advises against broad, unqualified claims such as “green” or “eco-friendly.” A specific, clearly qualified benefit still needs evidence and an assessment of the claim’s express and implied meaning.
Open the official sourcePerformance decoder
Five properties that should never share one icon.
A product may absorb at the face, resist liquid at a barrier, transmit vapor, and block air—all at the same time. Each property answers a different question.
Absorbency
How quickly and how much liquid enters and remains in the face or absorbent layer?
Method family
AATCC TM79; ASTM D4772 where applicable; defined uptake, capacity, spread, and rewet protocol.
Does not establish
Does not establish that liquid cannot pass through the complete product.
Water repellency
Does liquid bead or resist surface wetting?
Method family
AATCC TM22 or ISO 4920 where appropriate.
Does not establish
Does not establish resistance to sustained liquid pressure or justify “waterproof.”
Hydrostatic resistance
At what pressure and duration does liquid penetrate the tested material?
Method family
AATCC TM127, ISO 811, or an applicable coated-fabric method.
Does not establish
Does not establish seam, zipper, corner, or wash-aged finished-product containment.
Water-vapor transmission
At what rate does water vapor move through the tested material system?
Method family
AATCC TM204 or ASTM E96 with full conditions and orientation disclosed.
Does not establish
Does not equal air permeability, cooling, comfort, or a sleep-temperature outcome.
Air permeability
How much air flows through the material at a defined pressure differential?
Method family
ASTM D737 on the complete laminate where applicable.
Does not establish
A low-airflow film can still transmit vapor; the two values cannot substitute for one another.
Comparison discipline
Only compare records that are genuinely comparable.
Different method versions, temperature, humidity, pressure, orientation, specimen construction, units, or wash state can make two attractive numbers technically incomparable.
Comparable resultsame method + same conditions + same sample scope + same wash state
Method + versionTemperature + RHPressure / durationSpecimen orientationMembrane vs laminate vs finished articleAs received / wash-agedResult + unitLaboratory + report ID
Evidence required
Product format; component-role map; generic fibre percentages; fabric structure; pad fill where present; exact barrier and bond; assembly; supplier; construction; mass/thickness; sample state; and lot/BOM traceability.
Standard or method
Use the method that matches the exact property and end use. Report conditions and results; repeat on the complete product and after the intended care profile.
Not a guarantee
Market-established references and material tendencies are research inputs. They are not ProtectMySleep commercial confirmation, finished-product certification, availability, or claim approval.