The Development of Memory Foam

Memory foam is a material that was developed by NASA. These days this material can be found in many homes. It is used in a variety of products, from sports equipment to mattresses. Originally this material was developed because researchers and NASA’s Ames Research Center were looking for a way to make the seats on rockets more comfortable and safe. In 1966 the result of their efforts was memory foam. It is a type of polyurethane. The material is mixed with other chemicals to increase its viscosity and density. NASA initially commercialized the material and then in the 80’s memory foam was released to the public domain.

At that time not a lot of manufacturers were willing to work with this material because the process used to make it was very complicated and unreliable. Thanks to the developments of technology and additional research over the years the process of making memory foam has developed greatly. Today the material is used to make memory foam mattresses, pillows, cushions and pillows for hospital beds. The mattresses and cushions that are made using this material are extremely comfortable and are very popular.There are two main types of memory foam: Low density and high density. Low density memory foam reacts to pressure. When an object applies pressure to the foam it moulds itself to the shape of that object. Once the pressure is removed the material regains its original shape. High density foam reacts to heat. If you are lying down on a high density memory foam mattress then it will mould itself to your body because of your body heat. Because the mattress moulds itself to your body it is very comfortable. It will give you proper support and is very comfortable to use

Initially because the process of making memory foam was so challenging, memory foam mattresses were too expensive for people to use. These days they cost less but they will still cost you a pretty penny. A brand new memory foam mattress may not fit everyone’s budget, fortunately there are mattress toppers available. A memory foam mattress topper is a cover made from memory foam that you can put on top of your existing mattress. The mattress topper is less expensive and will add a lot of comfort to your bed. If you are not ready for a memory foam mattress then you should consider investing in a memory foam mattress topper.