The History Of Memory Foam Mattresses

By Author: Chris Day
Total Articles: 18
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Memory foam mattresses have a history rooted in outer space! During the early seventies, the NASA Research Center allocated funds for a material development that aided astronauts who suffered from the g-force exerted during take-off. It was suggested, after brainstorming, that the best way to offset these incredible forces was to utilize a foam material that easily contoured the body and henceforth hold the shape.

It was first thought to create a foam that was already impressed with the astronaut's form. This, however, seemed riddled with issues since any movement would displace the astronaut and actually exacerbate the g-force by further application to the pressure points of the body. As a result, the production and development of visco-elastic material was introduced and was extremely successful in maintaining the body shape of the astronaut but also return to the initial state once the pressure was removed. This allowed the body weight to be evenly distributed across the foam material and quickly adapt to any sudden changes or movements.

With the astounding development of such an amazing foam prototype, a Swedish ...
... manufacturing company began experimenting during the eighties to develop a product that would be useful to consumers around the world. In 1992, memory foam mattresses hit the North American mainstream with rave reviews. Despite its high-end price, the memory foam mattress was the answered prayer to those individuals who suffered from standard mattress use. Many companies were intrigued by this new material development and within the following years, many other companies had released their own versions that included the visco-elastic material. Not only was this material used for memory foam mattresses, it also found its way into other items such as pillows, upholstery, and specialty products.

Memory foam mattresses are constructed from synthetic polyurethane foam that is treated with different chemicals to bolster the density and weight. As a result, a non-toxic, visco-elastic foam mattress is created that has a wonderful ability to retain shape and contour to the human body. For this material to be graded at the visco-elastic level, it has to have a temperature specific sensitivity and also reform quickly. Generally, it is graded by weight density, indentation load deflection (ILD), resilience, and tensile standards. The weight is calculated by the intensity of the chemicals used and is usually around a 5-pound density (although some do have 2-3 pound measurements). The ILD rate illustrates how hard or soft the item will be and is used for consumers to gauge what firmness or thickness is best for their lifestyle and body type. Resilience measurements are used to determine how hard the material pushes back when pressure is applied while the tensile analysis is used to indicate how far the foam can be stretched (usually determined in pounds per square inch).

High-quality memory foam mattresses are built to last. Historically used as astronaut accessories, these mattresses are extremely durable but with all the comforts, a bed should have. Its unique construction and specially treated material ensure a restful sleep every night of the week.

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