Archive for the ‘What is Memory Foam?’ category

The Materials and Make Ups of The Mattress

January 2nd, 2010

Advanced manufacturing techniques are used to produce the components that make up an adjustable bed mattress.  They are uniquely created for an adjustable bed and their assembly and parts are carefully put together after many tests assuring the consumer of long life and usability.

This is Adam from another website that sells a memory foam mattress pad; he gives a basic explanation on what a pad really is and what it does for you.

While any bed can use an adjustable mattress as its top the same cannot be said for any other mattress top fitting an adjustable bed.  This should be fairly obvious as an adjustable bed has many moving parts and actually contorts the bed to fit the need of the individual.  If you were to throw just any old mattress top on there you would force it to experience abnormal wear.  Typically the adjustable mattress pad is used interchangeable in place like hospitals and home care facilities.

The mattress is constructed with a glue heated to extreme temperatures in order to laminate the pieces together.  The reason there is so much precaution used for these mattress tops is because the mattress will be bent and shaped literally thousands of times over.  Materials in beds usually react well to a bounce type of pressure like the pressure placed on it by your body when you lay down.  But to ask the bed to fold and contort is too much strain for the typical bed.

The mattress in engineered from conception to handle this bending and shaping.  A flexing insulator and polypropylene net is secured on top of the spring units to separate them from the combined layers.  Another synthetic pad of fibers is placed over the top of the insulator after which many more layers of high density foam cushioning are added to the mattress.  Finally a pre-sewn mattress cover is placed over the foam made of either cotton or polyester.

The final product is a superior comfort fitting mattress that never needs to be flipped and have layer upon layer of foam allowing it to bend with breaking.  The benefits these mattresses provide are many but here are just a few in case you care wondering whether a mattress like this is for you.

1. Promotes Cycles in which sleep can occur more normally,

2. Reduces skin temperature as a result of the heat absorbing foam,

3. Provides ample spinal column support,

4. Hospital Tested to make certain the effects are beneficial,

5. Recommended by chiropractors for proper back support.

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Memory Foam Mattress Toppers

January 2nd, 2010

Mattress toppers of any kind are designed to provide an increased quality of sleep and alleviate problems with body aches, back pain, snoring and generally improve the individuals quality of sleep.  Initially the concept of memory foam was developed by NASA in the late sixties as a way to improve the comfort and safety in airplane seating.  Primarily memory foam is constructed of polyurethane and other chemical mixtures to improve viscosity and the density of the foam itself.

There are some variations in the make-up of the memory foam which react differently to hot and cold.  Usually heat allows more flexibility and fluidity to the mattress while cold air will firm up the foam.  This is how the foam is able to conform to your body; it is a result of the heat from the body altering the elasticity of the foam.  Low density foam is not affected by the heat of the body and therefore will not form to your body but rather reacts to the pressure applied by the body to get its form.

People make the purchase of a foam topper because they like the bed they have but are simply looking to get a little more out of it in terms of comfort.  The elastic foam will support the body in ways the typical mattress is not able.  In the past people supplemented their beds with the old foam toppers that were simple constructs of very very low density foam.  These topper serve an initial purpose but pale in comparison and longevity.

Another primary benefit to the memory foam is that the density absorbs motion allowing one individual on one side of the bed to move and twist without affecting the other persons sleeping habits.  As you determine the memory foam topper that will best meet your needs   consider the following;

Density – The more dense the more the pad will react to your heat rather than pressure, it may take a while to sink in but once you do, you are stuck there.

Size – Make sure you select a size that corresponds to the size of your own mattress and provides adequate coverage of the bed space itself.

Thickness – The range is from one to four inches the thicker the mattress pad the more you are changing the comfort level of the bed.

Pricing – Mattress toppers can range anywhere between $40 and $350 dollars so make sure you have the budget before you start shopping.

Memory Foam Mattress Pad Topper

Mattress toppers of any kind are designed to provide an increased quality of sleep and alleviate problems with body aches, back pain, snoring and generally improve the individuals quality of sleep. Initially the concept of memory foam was developed by NASA in the late sixties as a way to improve the comfort and safety in airplane seating. Primarily memory foam is constructed of polyurethane and other chemical mixtures to improve viscosity and the density of the foam itself.

There are some variations in the make-up of the memory foam which react differently to hot and cold. Usually heat allows more flexibility and fluidity to the mattress while cold air will firm up the foam. This is how the foam is able to conform to your body; it is a result of the heat from the body altering the elasticity of the foam. Low density foam is not affected by the heat of the body and therefore will not form to your body but rather reacts to the pressure applied by the body to get its form.

People make the purchase of a foam topper because they like the bed they have but are simply looking to get a little more out of it in terms of comfort. The elastic foam will support the body in ways the typical mattress is not able. In the past people supplemented their beds with the old foam toppers that were simple constructs of very very low density foam. These topper serve an initial purpose but pale in comparison and longevity.

Another primary benefit to the memory foam is that the density absorbs motion allowing one individual on one side of the bed to move and twist without affecting the other persons sleeping habits. As you determine the memory foam topper that will best meet your needs consider the following;

Density – The more dense the more the pad will react to your heat rather than pressure, it may take a while to sink in but once you do, you are stuck there.

Size – Make sure you select a size that corresponds to the size of your own mattress and provides adequate coverage of the bed space itself.

Thickness – The range is from one to four inches the thicker the mattress pad the more you are changing the comfort level of the bed.

Pricing – Mattress toppers can range anywhere between $40 and $350 dollars so make sure you have the budget before you start shopping.

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Memory Foam History

January 2nd, 2010

Memory foam was developed originally by NASA as a way to improve comfort and quality of airplane travel.   Stencel Engineering Corporation was the first to successfully develop the project as they lent several engineers to the NASA efforts.  Originally it was named temper foam.

Later on a commercial entity was formed to market and sell the material as both medically related beds like x-ray machines and sports equipment like football helmet liners.  Later on the company was sold to a firm called Becton and the product line was expanded.

Originally the foam was introduced to the public in the late eighties and Fagerdala World Foams was one of a very small handful of companies willing to put the material through the rigorous production process.  In 1991 they produced the “Tempu-Pedic Swedish Mattress” and this eventually gave rise to the company Tempur World that currently has a significant market share.

The first life changing application of the foam was in the medical industry as previous patients who were bed ridden suffered from pressure points developed by their spring mattress.  These pressure points cut off blood flow and lead to both gangrene and bed sores, the new foam reduced these instances by 80% in most studies.

At first as with most new technology the material was too expensive for commercial in home use, but in recent years the popularity coupled with increased technology in the manufacturing has dropped the price significantly.  Its most common domestic use is in pillows, beds and mattress toppers, but is still used as wheelchair cushioning and in many hospitals around the world.  Because the foam retains heat they are often used for people with muscle pain as a way to increase blood flow and reduce tension.

There are some hazards to watch out for when considering the purchase of these products.  The chemicals used to create the foam are very potent and often cause headaches if not aired out properly.  The smell is similar to paint and the long term affects are unknown.  Careful precaution should be taken with people who suffer from chemical sensitivity or asthma related issues as these may be increased with the pad.

Manufactures also caution the use of the foam around babies because with the density of the foam the infant may find it hard to turn over which can lead to injury, suffocation and or death.

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