Coir fibres are extracted from the husks surrounding the coconut. It is a common experience that fibres detached from the coconut skin are quite hard to break by simple tension, hence by pulling from both sides. Excellent properties of resistance to wear and easy availability in countries, where coconut palms are widespread, have allowed coir to be employed for a variety of uses, e.g., for manufacturing toys, bags and carpets. Coir is popularly known as the golden FIBRE. It is extracted from the fibrous husk of the coconut shell. Coconut husk is a residue from coconut production, comprising approximately 30 wt. % coir fibres and 70 wt. % coir pith. It is used to manufacture a wide range of products such as ropes, mats, mattresses, baskets, brushes and brooms. Around 50 per cent of the coconut husk is used for making coir. Mixture of coir fibre and latex is steam heated, pressed and vulcanized to produce mattresses. Types & Structure of Coir Fibre There are two main types of coir fibre first is Brown Coir, from fully ripened coconut husks; strong and resistant to abrasion, it is used in brushes, floor mats, and upholstery padding and White Coir, from husks of coconuts harvested just before they ripen; softer and less strong, it is spun into yarn, used for ropes and mats. Uses and Applications A small amount is also made into twine. Pads of curled brown coir fibre, made by needle felting (a machine technique that mats the fibres together) are shaped and cut to fill mattresses and for use in erosion control on river banks and hillsides. A major proportion of brown coir pads are sprayed with rubber latex which bonds the fibres together (rubberized coir) to be used as upholstery padding for the automobile industry in Europe. The material is also used for insulation and packaging. The major use of white coir is in rope manufacture. Mats of woven coir fibre are made from the finer grades of bristle and white fibre using hand or mechanical looms. Coir is recommended as substitute for milled peat moss because it is free of bacterial and fungal spores. White coir also used to make fishing nets due to its strong resilience to salt water. In horticulture, coir is a strongly recommended substitute for sphagnum moss because it is free of bacterial and fungal spores, and produces good results without the environmental damage caused by peat mining. Coir is also useful to deter snails from delicate plantings. Coir is also used as a growing media in intensive glasshouse horticulture. Advantages of Rubberized Coir Mattresses A coir mattress is typically made similarly to other synthetic core mattresses. Coir mattresses will usually have layers of coir fibers finished with quilting or cloth cover on both sides. Advantages of rubberized coir mattresses are: Coir's moisture reducing and ventilation abilities give coir mattress the feel of a cool sensation and relaxation, Coir has natural springy quality coir which makes it very supportive, Coir is a hygroscopic material and hence is absorbs moisture from the air. It generally retains 8 to 10% moisture. This gives the cool sensation in the coir mattress, Coir is naturally anti dust mite which means it is perfect for all allergy sufferers, there are no adverse impacts on the environment and no harmful chemicals are used in making of a rubberized coir mattress. The factory does not emit any pollutants and rubberized coir mattresses are eco friendly, Coir being a natural product is Flame Retardant, etc.