What is Memory Foam ? - MemoryFoam-Sale.com

Memory Foam Remembers You !

Memory foam is a visco-elastic polyurethane foam. Its unique properties allow it to
be firmer in cool temperatures and softer when warm. Higher density memory foam
reacts to body heat which allows it to mold itself to the shape of a warm body within
a very few minutes. A lower density memory foam is pressure-sensitive and will mold
more quickly to the shape of the the body. The example often used to demonstrate
its properties is that a hand pressed into the foam and then removed will leave a
clear impression in the foam - you will see this in photos on our site.

Developed by Nasa: Memory foam was originally developed by NASA to
decrease the very high pressure caused by the extreme force occurring during the
take-off of the space shuttle. It was then used for medical purposes for patients
who used to lie in bed for long periods of time and Memory foam mattresses helped to
alleviate discomfort for these patients by eliminating pressure points. Initially Memory
Foam was too expensive for general use but as its popularity increased the costs
came down and it is now widely available. Its most common uses are for mattresses,
pillows, and mattress toppers and pads. A popular medical use is as an anti-snoring
pillow or to relieve back or neck pain. It is very popular with the RV crowd as they
must suffer with thin mattresses generally without box-springs. Most RV'ers are of
the age they enjoy a little more comfort also - this combination makes memory foam
a perfect fit as a topper on all any Recreation Vehicle beds.

Memory Foam Weight: A good memory foam mattress is denser than an
ordinary foam mattress. This makes it more supportive - but also heavier. It is often
seen as a very good compromise between the comfort of a soft mattress and the
supportiveness of a firm one. Memory foam mattresses may last longer than
traditional mattresses due to their resistance to parasites such as dust mites. For
this reason most hypoallergenic mattresses are made of Memory Foam. The better
memory foam mattresses typically weigh more than the economy ones.

Memory Foam Firmess, Density, and Technospeak: The property of
firmness of memory foam is used in determining comfort. Firmness is measured by a
foam's IFD (Indentation Force Deflection) rating. IFD measures the force in pounds
required to make a depression 1 inch deep into a foam sample 15" x 15" x 4" by a 8
inch diameter disc. IFD ratings for memory foams range between super soft - 10 and
semi-rigid - 120. Most memory foam mattresses are firm - 12 to 16 and denser than
the cheaper ones. To complicate the issue most Memory Foam is not advertised with
its IFD rating but instead its Density rating in lbs-per-cubic-ft. Low density pads are
2.5 to 3.5 lbs and the more expensive toppers are over 5 lb. density rating
(lbs.-per-cubic-ft). There is no specific relation between firmness (IFD) and Density
(weight per cubic ft.). Generally though the denser memory foam pads are firmer
than the lighter ones and as such pads with a density of 2.5 compress much easier
than pads with a density of 5.5. The pads are also priced generally according to
density - the more dense the more expensive. Are you still with me on this?
Confused: A 2.5 lb rated pad in the 2" thickness would be a good starting point and a
3" pad in a 5.2 lb. rating would be considerably more expensive but last significantly
longer. The pads work best if they can react to your body heat so you won't want
much more than a sheet directly over them.

Memory Foam Odor: If you read the reviews you will notice a common
complaint about the inital odor of memory foam. There is no debating it - when first
taken out of its wrapping plastic the foam will faintly smell of polyurethane. I
recommend leaving it in the garage for 2 to 10 days to allow it to fully fume-out. This
is normal. An advantage of the polyurethane is that its chemical makeup will totally
prevent the growth of bedbugs or dust mites. The density and low porosity of the
foam also effectively prohibits the retainment or breeding of allergens much better
than conventional mattresses. This is well worth putting up with the inconvenience
of airing it out for a week or two. This is why most hypoallergenic mattresses are
constructed primarily of memory foam. While Memory foam initially smells more than
conventional mattresses - it has none of the formaldehyde or other harmful chemicals
that can be sometimes found in traditional mattresses.