Memory foam

Memory foam consists mainly of polyurethane as well as additional chemicals increasing its viscosity and density. It is often referred to as "viscoelastic" polyurethane foam, or low-resilience polyurethane foam (LRPu). The foam bubbles or ‘cells’ are open, effectively creating a matrix through which air can move. Higher-density memory foam softens in reaction to body heat, allowing it to mold to a warm body in a few minutes. Newer foams may recover their original shape more quickly.[1]

Memory foam

History
Memory foam with a slower springback than the foam above. Note characteristic polyurethane yellowing caused by light exposure.

Memory foam was developed in 1966 under a contract by NASA's Ames Research Center to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. The temperature-sensitive memory foam was initially referred to as "slow spring back foam"; most called it "temper foam".[2] Created by feeding gas into a polymer matrix, the foam has an open-cell solid structure that matches pressure against it, yet slowly springs back to its original shape.[3]

Later commercialisation of the foam included use in both medical equipment such as X-ray table pads and sports equipment such as American / Canadian football helmet liners.

When NASA released memory foam to the public domain in the early 1980s, Fagerdala World Foams was one of the few companies willing to work with the foam, as the manufacturing process remained difficult and unreliable. Their 1991 product, the "Tempur-Pedic Swedish Mattress" eventually led to the mattress and cushion company, Tempur World.

Memory foam was subsequently used in medical settings. For example, it was commonly used in cases where the patient was required to lie immobile in their bed on a firm mattress for an unhealthy period of time. The pressure on some of their body regions impaired the blood flow to the region, causing pressure sores or gangrene. Memory foam mattresses significantly decreased such events.[2]

Memory foam was initially too expensive for widespread use, but became cheaper. Its most common domestic uses are mattresses, pillows, shoes and blankets. It has medical uses, such as wheelchair seat cushions, hospital bed pillows and padding for people suffering long-term pain or postural problems; for example, a memory foam cervical pillow may alleviate chronic neck pain. Its heat-retaining properties may help some pain sufferers who find the added warmth helps to decrease the pain.

The heat-retaining properties can also be a disadvantage when used in mattresses and pillows so in the second generation memory foam, companies began using open cell structure to improve breathability. In 2006, the third generation of memory foam was introduced. Gel visco or gel memory foam consists of gel particles fused with visco foam to reduce trapped body heat, speed up spring back time and help the mattress feel softer. This technology was originally developed and patented by Peterson Chemical Technology,[4] and gel mattresses became popular with the release of Serta's iComfort line and Simmons' Beautyrest line in 2011. Gel-infused memory foam was next developed with what were described as "beads" containing the gel which, as a phase-change material, would achieve the desired temperature stabilization or cooling effect by changing from a solid to a liquid "state" within the capsule. Changing physical states can significantly alter the heat absorption properties of an element, which is why the technology was applied to memory foam.

Since the development of gel memory foam, other materials have been added. Aloe vera, green tea extract and activated charcoal have been combined with the foam to reduce odors and even provide aromatherapy while sleeping. Rayon has been used in woven mattress covers over memory foam beds to wick moisture away from the body to increase comfort. Phase-change materials (PCMs) have also been used in the covers that are used on memory foam pillows, beds, and mattress pads. Other materials, apart from polyurethane, have also been shown to exhibit the properties necessary to make memory foam. Polyethylene terephthalate is one such polymeric material, which provides certain benefits over polyurethane, such as recyclability, lightness, and thermal insulation.[5]

Mattresses

A memory foam mattress is usually denser than other foam mattresses, making it both more supportive and heavier. Memory foam mattresses are often sold for higher prices than traditional mattresses. Memory foam used in mattresses is commonly manufactured in densities ranging from less than 1.5 lb/ft3 ( 24kg/m3 ) to 8 lb/ft3 ( 128kg/m3 ) density. Most standard memory foam has a density of 1 to 5 lb/ft3 (16–80 kg/m3). Most bedding, such as topper pads and comfort layers in mattresses, has a density of 3 to 4.5 lb/ft3. High densities such as 5.3 lb/ft3 (85 kg/m3) are used infrequently in mattresses.

The property of firmness (hard to soft) of memory foam is used in determining comfort. Firmness is measured by a foam's indentation force deflection (IFD) rating. However, it is not a complete measurement of a "soft" or "firm" feel. A foam of higher IFD but lower density can feel soft when compressed.

IFD measures the force (in pounds-force) required to make a dent 1 inch into a foam sample 15" x 15" x 4" by an 8-inch-diameter (50 sq in) disc—known as IFD @ 25% compression.[6] IFD ratings for memory foams range between super soft (IFD 10) and semi-rigid (IFD 12). Most memory foam mattresses are firm (IFD 12 to IFD 16).

Second and third generation memory foams have an open-cell structure that reacts to body heat and weight by molding to the sleeper's body, helping relieve pressure points, preventing pressure sores, etc.[7] Manufacturers claim that this may help relieve pressure points to relieve pain and promote more restful sleep, although there are no objective studies supporting the claimed benefits of memory foam mattresses.[8]

Memory foam mattresses retain body heat, so they can be excessively warm in hot weather. However, gel-type memory foams tend to be cooler due to their greater breathability.[9]

Hazards

Emissions from memory foam mattresses may directly cause more respiratory irritation than other mattresses. Memory foam, like other polyurethane products, can be combustible.[10] Laws in several jurisdictions have been enacted to require that all bedding, including memory foam items, be resistant to ignition from an open flame such as a candle or cigarette lighter. US bedding laws that went into effect in 2010 change the Cal-117 Bulletin for FR testing.[11]

There is concern that high levels of the fire retardant PBDE, commonly used in memory foam, could cause health problems for users.[12] PBDEs are no longer used in most bedding foams, especially in the European Union.

Manufacturers caution about leaving babies and small children unattended on memory foam mattresses, as they may find it difficult to turn over, and may suffocate.[9]

The United States Environmental Protection Agency published two documents proposing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) concerning hazardous emissions produced during the making of flexible polyurethane foam products.[13] The HAP emissions associated with polyurethane foam production include methylene chloride, toluene diisocyanate, methyl chloroform, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, propylene oxide, diethanolamine, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, and toluene. However, not all chemical emissions associated with the production of these material have been classified. Methylene chloride makes up over 98 percent of the total HAP emissions from this industry. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of methylene chloride also irritates the nose and throat. The effects of chronic (long-term) exposure to methylene chloride in humans involve the central nervous system, and include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and memory loss. Animal studies indicate that inhalation of methylene chloride affects the liver, kidney, and cardiovascular system. Developmental or reproductive effects of methylene chloride have not been reported in humans, but limited animal studies have reported lowered fetal body weights in rats exposed.[14]

Mechanical properties

Memory foam derives its viscoelastic properties from several effects, due to the internal structure of the material. The network effect is the force working to restore the structure of the foam when it is deformed. This effect is generated by the deformed porous material pushing outwards to restore its structure against an applied pressure. There are three effects which work against the network effect: the pneumatic effect, the adhesive effect, and the relaxation effect. These, combined, effectively slow the regeneration of the original structure of the foam, and allow for applications like memory foam mattresses. The pneumatic effect is caused by the time it takes for air to flow into the porous structure of the foam. The adhesive effect, or adhesion, is caused by the stickiness of the surfaces within the memory foam, which work against decompression, as the internal pores within the memory foam are pressed together by an applied pressure. The relaxation effect is the largest magnitude of the three forces working against expansion, and is caused by the memory foam’s material being near its glass transition temperature. This limits the mobility of the foam’s material, forcing any change to be gradual, slowing the expansion of the foam once the applied pressure has been removed. Since this is temperature-dependent, the temperature at which a memory foam retains its properties is limited. If it is too cold, the memory foam will harden. If it is too hot, the memory foam will act like conventional foams, easily springing back to its original shape. The underlying physics of this process can be described by polymeric creep.[15][16]

The pneumatic and adhesive effect are strongly correlated with the size of the pores within memory foam. Smaller pores leads to higher internal surface area and reduced air flow, increasing adhesion and the pneumatic effect respectively. Thus, by changing the cell structure and porosity of the memory foam, the properties can be controlled. Moreover, by using additives in the polymeric material of the memory foam, the glass transition temperature can also be modulated, affecting the properties of the foam.[15]

The mechanical properties of memory foam can affect the comfort of mattresses produced from it. There is also a trade-off between comfort and durability. Certain memory foams may have a more rigid cell structure, leading to a weaker distribution of weight, but better recovery of the original structure, leading to improved cyclability and durability. Moreover, a more dense cell structure can resist the penetration of water vapor, leading to reduced weathering and better durability and overall appearance.[17]

See also

References
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  2. "spinoff 2005-Forty-Year-Old Foam Springs Back With New Benefits". nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 20 March 2009.
  3. ""Eight spin-offs from space" Article from Cosmos Magazine". The Healthy Foundations Blog. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
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  5. Santo, Loredana; Bellisario, Denise; Quadrini, Fabrizio (25 January 2018). "Shape Memory Behavior of PET Foams". Polymers. 10 (115): 115. doi:10.3390/polym10020115. PMC 6415055. PMID 30966151.
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  7. Strand, Andrea. "Memory Foam Mattresses Guide For Side Sleepers". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  8. Annie Stuart (2010-02-08). "Memory Foam Mattresses: Benefits and Disadvantages". WebMD.
  9. Laurie Brenner. "Memory Foam Dangers". SFGATE (website of the San Francisco Chronicle). Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  10. "Is Memory-Foam Bedding a Fire Risk?". Archived from the original on 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  11. "Federal Mattress Standard - Bureau of Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation". ca.gov. Archived from the original on 2008-09-16.
  12. Arlene Blum The Fire Retardant Dilemma Archived 2009-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Science. 12 Oct 2007: 194b-195b.
  13. Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 250 / Friday, December 27, 1996 / Proposed Rule: Environmental Protection Agency Archived January 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine and Environmental Protection Agency Archived 2012-01-09 at the Wayback Machine Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 194 /Wednesday, October 7, 1998 /Rules and Regulations
  14. Environmental Protection Agency Archived 2012-01-09 at the Wayback Machine Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 194 /Wednesday, October 7, 1998 /Rules and Regulations
  15. Krebs, Michael. "The Adjustment of Physical Properties of Viscoelastic Foam – the Role of Different Raw Materials" (PDF). pu-additives.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  16. Landers, R. "The Importance of Cell Structure for Viscoelastic Foams" (PDF). pu-additives.com. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  17. Scarfato, Paola; Di Maio, Luciano; Incarnato, Loredana (16 October 2016). "Structure and physical-mechanical properties related to comfort of flexible polyurethane foams for mattress and effects of artificial weathering". Composites Part B. 109: 45–52. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.10.041.
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