www.simplysleepmattresses.co.uk :: What is Memory Foam?

john · 27 Apr 2007

Memory foam is the household term for 'visco elastic polyurethane foam', which is a temperature and pressure sensitive foam. This means that when you lie on a memory foam mattress, the weight and heat of your body causes the foam to mould itself to your body shape. When you get off the mattress, the foam will reform itself to its original shape.

This visco elastic quality means that a memory foam mattress will offer you a more supportive nights sleep than any normal sprung mattress. Your body weight will be spread more evenly, and the pressure you feel as you lie down will be effectively less. This pressure relieving quality has seen memory foam mattresses leap in popularity over the last ten years.

The invention of memory foam is often credited to NASA, which is correct strictly speaking. In the 1970's they invented a new type of foam with the idea of giving astronauts more support and protection on G-force heavy shuttle launches. This 'space age' foam never did make it into space though.

Instead it was picked up in the 80's by Swedish foam companies who set about developing it as a product suitable for the home market. Initially the price of manufacturing memory foam made it prohibitively expensive for the consumer market, and so it found it's way into the more specialised medicinal market.

Tempur were the first company to bring the same materials to the home market, but now due to the costs of visco elastic foam production coming down we think we can offer a similar quality of memory foam mattress for a fraction of the price. In the European market over 60% of people sleep on a memory foam mattress, and in the UK that figure drops to only 5%. We aim to change that by offering you the quality you would expect from a £1000+ mattress at a fraction of the cost.