The Secret of Memory Foam We've all seen the advert for memory foam mattresses. We've also seen the price tag. What makes them so comfortable that some people will go as far as collecting viscoelastic foam samples in order to build their very own bed? And is the premium mattress price justified? Density, firmness and heat responsiveness are what make a memory foam mattress supportive and comfortable. Each foam has a unique recipe that gives it its own feel, longevity and performance. So what is the recipe of Tempurpedic visco foam mattresses? Being one of the best known brands on the market, there is a wealth of information on Tempurpedic mattress technology. Reading about it gives you invaluable tips for choosing a memory mattress, be it the leading brand or not. The Top Factor In Memory Foam Mattress Success Memory foam density ranges from 2.5lb to 5.9lb. (density is measured in pounds per cubic foot). Tempurpedic foam used in memory mattresses is 5.34 lb which means that a cube of Tempur material, one foot in each direction, weighs a whopping 5.34lb.
But how does this relate to comfort and support? Generally speaking, mattresses made of the higher density foam are much better quality and perform better over their expected lifetime. High Density Foam Has More Body And Longer Memory In high density foam there are billions of small, open cells (bubbles with holes in them), tightly packed together. When you lie down on a high density foam mattress, air flows slowly between the bubbles giving it time to gently cradle the natural hollows of your body, distribute your weight and relieve pressure. High density foam has more body (thanks to the denser material), hence, it provides more cushion and better support. It conforms precisely to your body and slowly regains its original shape when you move, just like the hand imprint you may have seen on TV recovers after a few seconds. High density foams also have a longer memory. The general consensus seems to be that longer recovery from a compressed state makes a visco memory mattress more supportive.
High density foam also softens more slowly in response to body heat making it feel more gentle. You don't sink right through a high density memory foam mattress nor do you risk bottoming out. The extremely dense cell structure in foam mattresses by top manufacturers supports you well without wearing out in a few years' time. Its firmness keeps you up as well. High density visco foam is also more expensive to make because more raw material called resin, rather than air, goes into making the stuff. This is one of the things which explains why a top brand memory foam mattress is so expensive. Over the past few years manufacturers in the US and the UK (see Ergoflex's memory foam mattress selection) have came up with good quality memory foam products so there's a wider choice on the market than just one brand. The ability to change firmness actually improves the support and comfort. The firmness and density of the cooler foam deeper in the bed holds you up. But increased support also comes from the foam's heat responsiveness.
The visco elastic foam bed or topper softens at body temperature and makes up to 30% more body contact, thus improving weight distribution over a wider area. Higher density memory foam toppers are firmer because of the better quality resin used to make them. But this may not always be the case. You may come across firm, low density toppers. High density visco foam like the one used to make foam beds perform better as long as their firmness reacts to body temperature and adjusts in order to improve weight distribution and relieve pressure. Authenticity TestHow can you check if your purchase as good as a genuine Tempur bed? Top Memory Foam ComplaintThe most commonly reported problem consumers have with memory foam toppers is that they sleep hotter when compared to conventional sleeping surfaces.But sleeping conditions are influenced by environment temperature, the material's heat sensitivity and your own body heat. 4 lb vs 4.5 lbWhich to choose from a 4lb memoryfoam pad versus 4.5lb Tempur-Pedic mattress pad comparison?
Higher density alone does not make a quality sleeping surface. The formula behind the best sleeping surface uses best quality, high-density foam that responds to body temperature. You are here: Home > Must-Know Facts > The Secret of Tempur-Pedic Mattress FoamHome Guides Home Home Improvement Does a Memory Foam Mattress Need a Protective Covering? A cover designed specifically for memory foam keeps a mattress clean. A memory foam mattress is a bit different than a conventional mattress, being made of special foam that conforms to the body's shape. Like a conventional mattress, a cover is not entirely necessary between the mattress and fitted bed sheet, but it does help keep the mattress clean. Some mattress manufacturers recommend using a pad or cover to protect a memory foam mattress, noting that conventional mattress pads or covers impede the beneficial qualities of memory foam. Covers made especially for memory foam are a good choice to protect the mattress. Memory Foam and Mattress Pads A conventional mattress pad offers a thin layer of cushioning, which works well with a standard spring-based mattress but is not ideal for memory foam, since memory foam is designed to allow the body to sink into it for form-fitting comfort.
Retailers of memory-foam mattresses sell covers specifically designed for memory foam, offering protection against moisture and dust mites. The cover keeps the mattress clean, since the cover is machine-washable and the mattress is not. Clean the mattress itself with a vacuum cleaner. A mild soap on a slightly damp sponge cleans spots and stains; avoid saturating the mattress to keep it in pristine condition. References Tempurpedic: Product CareSealy: Memory Foam -- Caring for Your Sealy Photo Credits Siri Stafford/Digital Vision/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionOne of the biggest complaints by owners of memory foam pillows and mattresses is the unpleasant, and potentially unhealthy chemical smell. Memory foam is manufactured using polyurethane and several other chemicals, so it isn’t surprising that it emits a chemical odor. This “off gassing” of volatile organic compounds is a common and well-documented property of memory foam pillows and mattresses. The fumes are often compared to those experienced in a freshly painted room.
If you are experiencing this odor, the good news is you may not have to endure the smell for long. The bad news is that some of the chemicals used in memory foam aren’t entirely benign.Many memory foam mattress owners report that the off gassing period ends after a number of days.(1) Of course there are many factors which influence this including the product, the type of foam, the sensitivity of the person, the room ventilation and more. Even if the initial odor goes away, it is natural to wonder if there are health issues related to off gassing.Most people do not report any health issues resulting from their memory foam pillow or mattress. However, there are various reports of headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions resulting from the odor produced by memory foam. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you’ll want to avoid sleeping on the foam during the initial off gassing period. You can leave the pillow or mattress in a well-ventilated area for a week or two and see if that helps eliminate or reduce the odor and symptoms.
If after several weeks, the issue persists, it is probably time to consider an alternative to memory foam.Many many people use memory foam products without reporting any side effects or related health issues. That said, there are various reports and studies which indicate that memory foam may be somewhat toxic. Reports include carcinogenic chemicals and formaldehyde gas. To manufacture memory foam, chemicals are added to polyurethane to make it more dense and viscous at the same time. Additional chemicals are required to make the polyurethane flame retardant. One of these, Pentabde (of the polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) family), was used until 2004. Pentabde is now known to be toxic to the liver, thyroid, and nervous system.(2) A study in 2000 specifically found mattress emissions to be toxic to the lungs of labratory mice.The long-term effects of memory foam and its toxicity is not fully understood, but there clearly is some reason for concern. Aproximately one-third of your life is spent in close contact to your sleeping surface, so it is important to consider you and your family’s health when selecting a pillow or mattress.
Are you interested in the support and comfort provided by memory foam, but want to avoid that chemical smell? There are several natural pillow options for those looking for a new pillow. Of course, our favorite is our buckwheat hull pillow. Besides being natural and chemical-free, buckwheat pillows are a great alternative to memory foam for a couple of other reasons.Memory foam is not breathable and this can result in a hot and sweaty pillow. The shape and particulate nature of buckwhat hulls leaves a lot of air space in your pillow between all of the hulls. This airspace allows warm moist air to escape, leaving your pillow cool and dry.While a memory foam pillow conforms to the shape of your head, the overall shape and thickness of the pillow is fixed, making the pillow less adaptable to your sleeping position. The fill in a stuffed pillow can be shifted and adjusted for a wider variety of shapes and sizes.If you’ve decided against a memory foam pillow and a buckwheat pillow isn’t right for you, other natural alternatives to memory foam include pillows filled with down, cotton, wool, latex, kapok or millet hulls.