You must’ve heard the term ‘memory foam technology’, especially when you go shopping for mattresses or pillows. But what does it really mean?
In this article, we’ll introduce one of the most popular technologies used in bedding. We’ll also discuss how it works, and explore its pros and cons.
What Is Memory Foam Technology?
To put it into short words, memory foam consists of low-resistance polyurethane foam. This foam is usually created by adding different chemicals to this polymer to affect its response to pressure.
As a result, when you lie on a memory foam mattress, its surface will slowly take the shape of your body, distributing your weight evenly. When the pressure is gone, the mattress goes back to its original form.
Over time, a memory foam mattress will remember your body shape and your sleeping position, which explains its name.
What makes memory foam an excellent technology to use in different applications is that it absorbs impact. When applying sudden pressure to the foam, it takes a long time to respond.
Background
Memory foam was first introduced by NASA in the 1960s. Its main purpose was to improve seat cushioning to protect spaceship pilots and passengers from the impacts of a crash. This is due to its shock-absorbing nature.
Years later, memory foam became a mattress material, gaining more popularity over time until this day.
Common Uses
Besides mattress and pillows, memory foam is used in making:
- Shoes
- Blankets
- Medical products (wheelchair seat cushions, hospital bed pillows, etc.)
- Football helmet liners
- Seatbelts and car seat cushioning
- Furniture
Memory Foam Pros
Let’s explore the many qualities of memory foam products.
Stress Relief
Because a memory foam mattress conforms to your shape, it can take a lot of pressure off several parts of your body. These parts include your hips, shoulders, and neck.
Therefore, it can be a good way to reduce joint pain for people who suffer from conditions such as arthritis.
Hypoallergenic
A memory foam mattress consists of many layers. Due to its dense structure, the mattress will be less likely to attract and harbor allergens like:
Good for Light Sleepers
Since this mattress responds slowly to motion, people with light sleep can rely on it. If you move in your sleep or get out of bed, your partner shouldn’t sense any of it.
Better yet, a memory foam mattress doesn’t make any noise as opposed to other mattress types.
Memory Foam Cons
Despite its various plus points, a memory foam mattress has its downsides as well.
Unwanted Warmth
Memory foam mattresses tend to trap your body heat. Also, because of their dense material, they can make you feel uncomfortably warm in a few hours.
Still, several cooling technologies have been added to these mattresses to keep this from happening. For instance, open-cell and gel foams can help with this problem.
Cost
Another drawback to memory mattresses is that they can be more expensive than other mattress types. However, because they’ve become widely spread over the years, you can expect their prices to go down.
Other cons to memory foam mattresses include:
- Heavyweight
- They can have a chemical-like smell for weeks of unboxing them
- Not waterproof
Wrapping Up
From medical uses to spaceship manufacturing, to household items, memory foam has been a reliable technology for years. This is due to its ability to absorb shock and mold itself to the contours of the human body.
There’s no doubt that this technology will take even bigger leaps in the future to make our lives easier.
