"How Does Memory Foam Work? "

“It’s soft, conforming and exquisitely comfortable, but how does Memory Foam actually work?

Also called visco-elastic foam, memory foam is made mainly of polyurethane, which is also used in different mediums such as foam seating, insulation panels, seals & gaskets, Spandex fibres, and hard plastic parts of electronic instruments.

Memory foam reacts and responds to changes in temperature and pressure. The foam realigns, softening where heated pressure is applied (for example, body heat), and since memory foam is an insulating material, it makes localized temperature increases possible. When laying down, the mattress will react more to points of higher pressure, like the shoulders and hips, thereby distributing a person’s weight evenly and aligning the spine.

There are three main components in the making of a memory foam mattress that work together to make memory foam the great product that it is: open cell structure, firmness, and density.

Open Cell Structure – Foam cell structures can range from open to almost close cell. The tighter (or more closed) the cell structure, the less air there is that flows through. The polyurethane in memory foam uses an open cell structure, meaning that each foam cell contains pores which trap air in a solid state. This cell structure allows better airflow, less odor after opening from vacuum packaging, and better decompression over a longer period of time. When the open cells are compressed (for example, by laying down on the mattress), air is spread throughout, and displaced among adjoining cells in the mattress.

Firmness – The firmness in memory foam is measured using IFD (Indentation Force Deflection). The IFD is determined by the amount of weight it takes to compress the foam by 65%. More weight used equals a higher IFD score. When measuring the IFD, one has to take the density of the mattress into consideration, as the higher the density, the more firm the mattress will be, and therefore it will need more weight to compress by 65%.

Density – The density of a memory foam mattress directly determines its reaction to heat and pressure. Measured in lbs/ft3, memory foam mattress density typically ranges from 3-6 lbs/ft3. The higher the density, the more firm the mattress. With a firmer mattress, it will take more weight to make an impression, and the mattress life is overall longer than that of a less dense mattress.

Typically it is recommended to purchase a higher density memory foam mattress (5 lbs/ft3 or higher), as the lower density foams can be too soft, not supporting proper alignment of the spine. Also, higher density foams have a longer “memory”, and will return to their original shape more slowly than lower density mattresses.

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"How Does Memory Foam Work? "