Memory Foam - A Short History

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by: Hollie Wilcox
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Word Count: 355
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 Time: 12:39 AM
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Many of us have heard of memory foam mattresses, seen them advertised, added one to a wish list or even own one. But what are the origins of the memory foam mattress, and what exactly are they made of? Memory foam mattresses are renowned for giving their users a great night sleep, and the birth of these ultra comfy sleep aids is an interesting one.

Memory foam is made of polyurethane - the same material which is used for a whole variety of other products such as varnish, furniture and even boat hulls to name but a few. In memory foam, other chemicals are added to the original polyurethane in order to increase the viscosity of the material.Depending on the chemical that is added to the polyurethane and therefore the overall density of the foam, it is firmer in cool temperatures and softer when warm. Memory foam mattresses with a higher density reacts to body heat, which results in the body moulding qualities it is famous for. Lower density memory foam relies more on pressure-sensitivity, and will mould more quickly to the shape of the body than the higher density foam. As an example, a hand is usually placed on the foam, and then when taken off a clear imprint of the hand is visible.

Memory foam was originally created in 1966 under a contract by NASA as a way to improve the safety of aircraft cushions, and was named temper foam, a name which is still sometimes used today. The scientist responsible for the foam then worked with NASA in around 1974 to commercialise the foam, and a whole host of products such as helmet liners and x-ray table mats were sold to the public.

Memory foam was originally very expensive to make, and was only really manufactured for use in small quantities or for medical use, however in recent years advancements have lent an affordability to memory foam, meaning that today it is used commercially mainly for mattresses and pillows. Modern users of this material report a much better quality of sleep, and medical uses for the foam are being discovered all the time.

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For more information about the benefits of memory foam or to order your very own memory foam mattress, visit the experts at www.memoryfoammatrressdirect.co.uk today.