| Memory foam mattresses quite literally, fell from outer | | | | Foam has been used in mattresses for many years. It |
| space into our bedrooms. And this space aged | | | | compresses under body weight and later springs back |
| technology is revolutionising the bedding world, offering | | | | to its original shape. But memory foam mattresses just |
| greater sleep comfort than was previously possible. | | | | don't compress; they mould to the shape of the |
| The following is a brief history of how this remarkable | | | | sleeper's body and they don't spring immediately back |
| product came about. | | | | into their original shape. The cells of a memory foam |
| Memory foam was originally developed by NASA to | | | | mattress employ an open cell structure, which means |
| ease the pressure of extreme G-forces during space | | | | the cells of foam have holes in them. These compress |
| shuttle take off. However, it was never used in the | | | | fully and spread their air pressure to adjoining cells. This |
| space program. The initial memory foam, known as | | | | feature of memory foam is what really helps to |
| T-foam, gave off too much obnoxious gas for it to be | | | | reduce pressure points. |
| used in a closed environment, such as a bedroom. | | | | As well as yielding under weight, the cells of a memory |
| T-foam also wasn't very durable - it would often | | | | foam mattress are heat sensitive; the more heat the |
| compress or crack over time. | | | | more they compress. Temperature sensitivity helps |
| However, a small Swedish company called | | | | the memory foam mattress to further conform to the |
| Tempur-Pedic saw the promise of this new material. | | | | exact shape of the sleeper's body. |
| Tempur-Pedic worked on and refined its version of | | | | Is all memory foam the same? |
| memory foam; eventually manufacturing a version of | | | | No. Many manufactures now claim to make memory |
| memory foam it called TEMPUR. Initially the | | | | foam mattresses. However, the cell structure of the |
| manufacturing process was expensive and the | | | | memory foam isn't always the same. Some are made |
| mattress was only sold to medical establishments that | | | | from low density memory foam or layered with other, |
| needed mattresses for patients that suffered back | | | | cheaper foam products - to keep costs down. As a |
| problems or from pressure point pain. The | | | | guideline, the mattress should have at least 3" of 5 lb |
| improvement of patients' sleep was astounding. | | | | density memory foam. A thickness of 2" may be |
| Thankfully, the company realized the vast commercial | | | | adequate but a 3" memory foam mattress does give |
| profit that could be made by selling memory foam | | | | a better 'feel'. Buying thicker than 3" does have a |
| mattresses to the general public. The manufacturing | | | | drawback; memory foam is a soft material and, over |
| process was further refined and costs were reduced | | | | time, can loose its shape. You can buy a 4" topper, but |
| - although the Tempur-Pedic still remains an expensive | | | | you would expect to replace this at some point in the |
| purchase, and shortly after, an affordable | | | | future. |
| Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress went on sale | | | | If you're seriously thinking of buy a memory foam |
| to the general public. | | | | mattress then buy one from one of the more |
| But exactly how does memory foam work? | | | | reputable and established manufacturers. A memory |
| Memory foam conforms to the exact shape of the | | | | foam mattress from Serta or Sealy is a good option |
| sleeper's body. It is a very soft material and isn't able | | | | as is buying from the original - and market leader - |
| to provide the support necessary, which is why it is | | | | Tempur-Pedic. |
| often used as a topper on mattresses. | | | | |