Mattress Memory Foam Pad

Combining an older mattress and memory foam pad can be an economical alternative to investing a new mattress set. A quality memory foam pad can give an older mattress new life and level of comfort. Using a memory foam pad is also a good way to test drive memory foam and help you decide if a memory foam mattress is right for you.

Memory foam is quite dense compared to other foam materials and can mold itself to the body in ways that other bedding materials simply can not. There can be vast differences in one manufacturer's memory foam mattress to that of another manufacturer. The variances can include the over all thickness of the material, hardness, and quality.

The hardness or density of the foam can be compared by looking at the weight per cubic foot of material. Think of a box one foot square in size and imagine the box shape to be a piece of memory foam. There is a big difference in density between material that is two and half pounds per cubic foot and material that is four pounds per cubic foot.

As a general rule the greater the density of the foam, the more expensive the mattress. The overall quality of a memory foam mattress may depend on the other materials used, since the layer of memory foam may only make up three to four inches of the overall thickness of the mattress. Memory foam can be found atop traditional inner spring designs that are than wrapped in latex foam with visco-elastic foam placed on top, all encased in a traditional mattress covering.

Memory Foam History

Memory foam was first developed for use in the space program during the nineteen seventies though the product was never used in manned space flight missions. NASA envisioned a need for astronauts to sleep during extended space missions and the foam was thought to the answer. Memory foam was disqualified for use in space because the chemical compounds used to produce the foam was found to be out-gassing. The chemical out-gassing could have posed a significant risk in the clean room environment of a manned spacecraft.

It was not long before another application was discovered for memory foam and that was as a material for mattresses. Several manufacturers began to incorporate visco elastic foam into their mattress designs. The memory foam mattresses became so popular that consumers with conventional mattresses began looking for a way to upgrade to memory foam without the expense of new bedding. This demand was met by the introduction of inexpensive memory foam toppers that could be placed on top of a conventional bed. The addition of the foam topper allowed consumers to experience the benefits of memory foam without the added expense.

There was a drawback to some of the foam toppers being produced. Just as with the original foam developed for NASA, consumers began to experience what came to be described as memory foam topper odor. Memory foam pad odor comes from the out-gassing of the chemicals used to produce the foam. Cotton sleeves are now available to enclose the foam and help keep memory foam topper odor to minimum. In response to the concerns of consumers and to changes in indoor air quality regulations, manufacturers have changed the formulation of the foam to help reduce out-gassing.

Getting good sleep is a very important part of everyday life. Making sure we get enough sleep is important and getting enough quality sleep is even more so. Quality sleep helps to refresh us physically as well as mentally. Poor sleeping habits may lead to short-term memory loss and even physical maladies that can adversely affect cardiac and circulatory health.