Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41682028›Full record

ArticlePolymers2026

Bio-Inspired Microstructural Engineering of Polyurethane Foams with Luffa Fibers for Synergistic Optimization of Ergonomic Support and Hygrothermal Comfort.

Mengsi Zhang, Juan Zhou, Nuofan Tang, Yijun Hu, Fuchao Yan, Yuxia Chen, Yong Guo, Daowu Tu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Polymers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mengsi ZhangSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Juan ZhouSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Nuofan TangSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Yijun HuSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Fuchao YanSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Yuxia ChenSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Yong GuoSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
Daowu TuSchool of Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.

Funding

Anhui Provincial Graduate Joint Training Demonstration Base 2022lhpysfjd025Anhui Provincial Key Research and Development Plan 202204c06020025
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Traditional flexible polyurethane (PU) foams frequently exhibit limited mechanical support and suboptimal moisture-heat regulation, which can compromise the microenvironmental comfort required for high-quality sleep. In this study, natural luffa fibers (LF) were incorporated as a microstructural modifier to simultaneously enhance the mechanical and moisture-heat regulation performance of PU foams. PU/LF composite foams with varying LF loadings were prepared via in situ polymerization, and their foaming kinetics, cellular morphology evolution, and physicochemical characteristics were systematically investigated. The results indicate that LF functions both as a reinforcing skeleton and as a heterogeneous nucleation site, thereby promoting more uniform bubble formation and controlled open-cell development. At an optimal loading of 4 wt%, the composite foam developed a highly interconnected porous architecture, leading to a 7.9% increase in tensile strength and improvements of 19.4% and 22.6% in moisture absorption and moisture dissipation rates, respectively, effectively alleviating the heat-moisture accumulation typically observed in unmodified PU foams. Ergonomic pillow prototypes fabricated from the optimized composite further exhibited enhanced pressure-relief performance, as evidenced by reduced peak cervical pressure and improved uniformity of contact-area distribution in human-pillow pressure mapping, together with an increased SAG factor, indicating improved load-bearing adaptability under physiological sleep postures. Collectively, these findings elucidate the microstructural regulatory role of biomass-derived luffa fibers within porous polymer matrices and provide a robust material basis for developing high-performance, sustainable, and ergonomically optimized sleep products.

Indexed as

ergonomic pillowluffa fibermicrostructural regulationpolyurethane foamthermo-hygrometric comfort

Identifiers

PMID41682028
PMCPMC12899512

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.