- Non-Absorbent Wadding.
Unbleached raw cotton wool. Because the wax layer has not been removed from this cotton wool, it does not absorb moisture and retains body heat. Non-absorbent wadding is very springy and is therefore used as padding material and to ensure even pressure distribution. A disadvantage is that non-absorbent wadding tends to disintegrate quickly and gives off fluff.
- Synthetic Wadding.
A woven material of high quality Dacron polyester fabric or polyamide. This wadding is highly elastic and moisture permeable. It is used as a padding material, for example in plaster casts or as a layer under compression bandages to ensure even pressure distribution. The structure of the fibres allows the layers to lock together, as a result of which this synthetic wadding shifts less than non-absorbent cotton wadding.
- Non-Absorbent Bleached Cotton.
To prevent fluff being given off, the wadding is coated with a thin layer of adhesive. Bleached non-absorbent cotton wool is used in the same way as unbleached non-absorbent cotton wool.
Other pressure-distributing materials made of foam rubber and other synthetic materials are also commercially available. These are used in combination with support or immobilising bandages to prevent bed sores. This material is usually pre-shaped or can be easily cut to size.