What is memory foam or visco elastic foam?

• What is Memory Foam or visco elastic foam?

Memory foam is a blend of polyurethane (a polymer made as a byproduct of petroleum refining) and additional chemicals that give the memory foam its low-resilience. It was originally developed by NASA in the 1970s for airplane cushioning and has since become one of the widest materials used in mattresses and pillows.

Memory foam, also called visco elastic foam, has been around since the mid-70s and made a big splash in the mattress industry over the past couple decades. In recent years, memory foam mattresses have become ubiquitous with the online mattress movement with brands like Bear Mattress and Nectar making big impacts in the industry.

Memory foam or visco elastic foam

Memory foam or visco elastic foam

But what is memory foam exactly? It is a blend of polyurethane foam, which is a synthetic polymer that is slow response and soft to the touch. There are a variety of foam manufacturers around the China and abroad that supply mattress makers. Some mattress companies also create their own special blend of foam for their specific feel. For example, Tempur-Pedic has its own proprietary blend called Tempur foam.

In mattresses, older or lower quality memory foam may sag from the repetitive pressure of laying or sitting. For this reason, those that are heavier should do additional research about soft memory foam bedding as they will sink more than alternatives and could lead to discomfort for some body types.

Lastly, over the recent years, there has been reports of off-gassing and toxic odors released from memory foam. Some lower quality or treated memory foam may have this problem and cause respiratory inflamation. It is important to make sure that memory foam is high quality.

Memory foam for mattresses

Memory foam for mattresses

In mattresses, older or lower quality memory foam may sag from the repetitive pressure of laying or sitting. For this reason, those that are heavier should do additional research about soft memory foam bedding as they will sink more than alternatives and could lead to discomfort for some body types.

Lastly, over the recent years, there has been reports of off-gassing and toxic odors released from memory foam. Some lower quality or treated memory foam may have this problem and cause respiratory inflamation. It is important to make sure that memory foam is high quality.

• What are the advantages for Memory Foam?

Contouring comfort, competitive pricepoints, and widespread options.

• What are the disadvantages for Memory Foam?

Sagging and off-gassing problems with lower quality foams.

• How Memory Foam Made?

Memory foam (or visco elastic foam) is a polymer created during a chemical reaction between Polyol and Diisocyanate (two chemicals created from organic compounds). The ratio of Polyol to Diisocyanate is 2:1 to form polyurethane, though there may be other compounds that are added to create just the right amount of elasticity and density for each piece of foam. When the chemical reaction occurs in the presence of water with catalysts like tin and amines, a new viscous liquid in the consitency of an ice cream is formed. This hot mixture is then placed in a mold, dried, cooled, and cut for the use in pillows and mattresses. For most foam manufacturers, this end-to-end process of catalyzing the foam to clipping it for a mattress is about 8 hours.

• How Memory Foam used in Beding?

Memory foam (or Visco elastic foam) has wide spread use in pillows, toppers, and mattresses. Though memory foam is an industry buzzword, it is usually found only in the top layer of memory foam mattresses. Other layers of 'memory foam' mattresses are usually a blend of polyurethane foams with less elastic attributes.

Memory foam for pillows

Memory foam for pillows

What is 'Shore' hardness in EVA foam?

No matter what type of application you have or the style of EVA foam required, our expert team will help you find the perfect material based on shore hardness. Please link here to see the details of Shore hardness in EVA foam.