**4.3. Non-woven textiles in furniture**

The comfort, related with upholstery textiles, is generally associated with their touch [31,32]. In fact, the touch of the textiles is one of the factors for physical and neurophysiological comfort of the individual. However, the comfort of furniture, covered with fabrics, is determined by the thermophysiological comfort of the person. The thermophysiological comfort, in turn, depends on the behavior of the textile barrier between the body and the piece of furniture [33].

Non-woven textiles are applied in 80–90% of foambacked furniture systems and mattresses [34]. They are the outermost layer of the system (being the upholstery layer) or are used to provide support for the upholstery fabric. Currently, there is a trend of replacing the traditional woven covers of mattresses, made of cotton yarns, with filament non-wovens made of polyester and polypropylene.

Different types of non-woven coverings are in use [34]:


Inside furniture systems, non-wovens are used for support, insulation, and comfort. Needlepunched waddings and paddings, made from natural and chemical fiber that are recycled from textile production waste, or virgin fiber from acrylic, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate are among the most commonly used [35]. The non-wovens replace the polyur‐ ethane foams in furniture systems and mattresses. These are products, based on stitch-bonding technologies, which provide thermal insulation and reduce noise and vibration during operation of furniture and mattresses. Composite non-woven textiles, produced by a web from bi-component fibers, are also in use. They have the same quality as foam of the same thickness [34], but demonstrate higher air permeability, which is important for ensuring both the thermophysiological comfort and the retention of MVOCs.

There is no risk for the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in terms of gas emissions from the upholstery textiles [36]. The upholstery surface, however, creates the same problems of accumulation of dust and particulate matter as the floor coverings. Therefore, furniture systems can be a source of VOCs, MVOCs, etc. due to accumulation of dust and allergenic particles from other sources of harmful substances in the indoor environment.

A solution of that problem is the use of synthetic leather as outermost layer of furniture pieces. Non-wovens are successful substitute for genuine leather. Different materials and technologies are applied for the production of synthetic leather. At the same time, synthetic leathers are an excellent substitute for both woven and knitted upholstery fabrics, which positively influences the IAQ of the indoor environment. Synthetic leather does not accumulate dust as woven and knitted textiles; it is not permeable toward the inner layers of the furniture system and can be cleaned more easily compared to traditional textiles.
