Most of us know there is a link between NASA and memory foam – but do you know what that link is?
Read on to learn some foam facts about this fascinating visco-elastic material and just how it came to be.
When was memory foam invented?
NASA was the first to develop memory foam, back in the 1970s. The visco-elastic foam was developed to be used as cushioning for astronauts in space crafts, to offer extra support against the high pressure of the G-force as they rocketed into outer space.
Certified Stamp of Approval
Although the space foam was never initially intended to be used for bedding, many Memory Foam Mattresses today carry the ‘Certified Space Technology’ stamp of approval. This is given to products that are a direct result of technology developed for space programmes or feature specific advances and improvements of a high technological standard.
That’s why you might see some memory foam products being referred to as an astronaut mattress or a space memory foam pillow!
Global Success
It was only in the 1990s that memory foam extended into the consumer market, firstly in America. Once the health benefits of sleeping on memory foam were recognised, the space age technology suddenly became very popular.
Unique Memory Foam Benefits
The significance of memory foam is its ability to support our entire body weight whilst at the same time reducing the strain we put on our pressure points when we lay down. The foam also moulds to our unique shape and cradles our body without disturbing our sleep, lessening the chance of us waking up with aches and pains.
Memory foam comes with a wide range of benefits to help you get a great night’s sleep;
- Tailored support
- Cushioned surface
- Pressure relief
- Hypoallergenic materials
- Spinal support
- Movement absorption
Memory Foam Construction
To achieve all these benefits the foam must be made from the original open-cell structured material. Unlike traditional coil and spring mattresses, it offers the perfect combination of comfort and support and will keep your spine in the correct alignment, no matter what position you sleep in.
Interesting Facts About Memory Foam
Hungry for more foam facts? Here you go…
Want to add some space tech to your bed? Browse our wide range of memory foam mattresses and pillows.
- Tempur mattress foam is constructed slightly differently to memory foam but has almost identical sleep benefits
- Memory foam moulds to your shape thanks to the polyurethane foam which is visco-elastic, meaning it softens on contact with weight and heat.
- If you press your hand into a memory foam surface, you can watch your handprint gradually disappear - just like magic!
- The chemicals used to make memory foam mattresses are completely safe
- Several types of foams are used in mattresses, including reflex foam, polyurethane foam, open-cell memory foam and even gel foam.
- The idea that all memory foam makes you hot is a myth! There are plenty of cooling memory foam mattresses to choose from that are constructed from breathable open-cell foam.
Want to add some space tech to your bed? Browse our wide range of memory foam mattresses and pillows.
