Buying a memory foam mattress can be whirlwind experience. This website is intented to help you learn about the product. Our goal is to help make you a more educated consumer. What is memory foam? what is Visco-elastic foam? These might some of the question running thorugh your mind. Lets start from the begining.

Memory foam was developed in 1966 by NASA's to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. Due to its sensitivity to temperature it was named "temper foam". There were early attempts to commercialize this revolutinary foam. Those attempst included placing it in medical equipment such as X-ray tables pads, and sports equipment such as foot ball helmets. Today we find memory foam in a vast range of products.

When NASA released memory foam to the public domain in the early 1980s, the manufacturing process of memory foam was difficult and unreliable. In 1991 the product, "Tempur-Pedic Swedish Mattress" eventually led to tempur world boom. Memory foam was intially used medically. The memory foam mattress remarkably decrease occurances of pressure sores and gangrene, conditions that can occur when a patients lies immobile on firm mattrasses for long periods of time.

Initially memory foam was too expensive for most people to get the benefit of there use. In recent years it has become cheaper. Its most common domestic uses are mattresses, pillows, and mattress toppers. It has medical uses, such as wheelchair seat cushions, hospital bed pillows and padding for persons suffering long-term pain or postural problems; for example, a memory foam cervical pillow may alleviate chronic neck pain. Its heat-retaining properties may help some pain sufferers who find the added warmth helps to decrease the pain.

Memory Foam Properties

A memory foam mattress is usually denser than other foam mattresses. This makes it more supportive but also heavier. It is often seen as a good compromise between the comfort of a soft mattress and the supportiveness of a firm one. Memory foam mattresses often sell for more than traditional mattresses. Be sure to ask your retailer specific questions in regards to the density.

Firmness is measured by a foam's IFD rating. Firmness is used to determine comfort. IFD measures the force ( in pounds) required to make a dent 1 inch into a foam sample 15" x 15" x 4" by a 8 inch diameter (50 sq in) disc – known as IFD @ 25% compression. IFD ratings for memory foams range between super soft (IFD 10) and semi-rigid (IFD 12). Most memory foam mattresses are firm (IFD 12 to IFD 16).

Some reports may feel the density of the memory foam mattress is a better way to determine comfort levels. Foam density of 5 lbs per cubic foot (80 kg/m3) or greater is considered high quality, although most standard memory foam is 1-5 lbs per square inch.

Memory foam has an open cell structure that reacts to body heat and weight by moulding to your body, helping relieve pressure points, preventing pressure sores, etc. Most memory foam has the same basic chemical composition, however the density and layer thickness of the foam means different mattresses feel very different. A high density mattress will mean it returns to position more slowly and will be firmer; a lower density will feel more like a normal foam mattress.

The amount of memory foam also has an effect on the capabilities of the mattress or topper. Anything less than 2 inches will not have much of an effect, whereas a 6 inch block would be too soft and dense to sleep on comfortably Each mattress, therefore, is a combination of its height, density, and type, each of which will have different properties.

Hazards & things to be aware of

Some memory foams give off a distinct chemical odor when they are brand new. Some say the smell resembles paint. . Emissions from memory foam mattresses may cause more respiratory irritation than other mattresses such as latex mattressess. Mildew and house dust mites may not occur as frequently so asthma attacks may be less frequent and severe.

Memory foam can be combustible. US Federal Laws have been enacted in the to require all bedding, including memory foam items, be resistant to ignition from an open flame such as a candle or cigarette lighter. There is concern that high levels of the fire retardant used in memory foam, could cause health problems for users.

For those of you with small children, manufacturers caution against leaving babies and small children unattended on a memory foam mattress as they may find it more difficult to turn and rotate and may suffocate.