Memory foam was developed in 1966 under a contract by NASA’s Ames Research Center to improve the safety of aircraft cushions. NASA needed something to make astronauts more comfortable because they were subjected to significant force during takeoff. Ames scientist Chiharu Kubokawa and Charles A. Yost of the Stencel Aero Engineering Corporation were major contributors to this project. The temperature- sensitive memory foam was initially referred to as “slow spring back foam”; Yost called it “temper foam”. 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.

Yost later founded Dynamic Systems Inc. in collaboration with NASA to commercialize the foam, including it in both medical equipment such as X-ray table pads and sports equipment such as football helmet liners. After Dynamic Systems sold memory foam products to Becton, the range of products was expanded. When NASA released memory foam to the public domain in the early 1980′s memory foam was subsequently used in medical settings. For example, it was commonly utilized 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 over some of their body regions decreased or stopped the blood flow to the region causing pressure sores or gangrene. Memory foam mattresses significantly decreased such events.

Memory foams most common domestic uses are mattresses, pillows, and blankets. It has medical uses, such as wheelchair seat cushions, hospital bed pillows and padding for persons 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. Unfortunately, the heat-retaining properties can also be a downside when used in mattresses and pillows so in the 2nd generation memory foam, companies began using open cell structure to better help with breathability. In 2006, the 3rd 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.

Since the development of gel memory foam, other materials have been added. Aloe vera, green tea and have been combined with the foam to reduce odors and even provide arometherapy while sleeping. Bamboo fiber has been used in woven mattress covers over memory foam beds to wick moisture away from the body to increase comfort.

Memory foam is a special plastic foam that conforms to a shape when compressed. When a person sleeps on a memory foam mattress, the foam retains his shape until he moves, and then it conforms to his shape again. This is significant because if the foam always retained one shape, it would press against the person at different points when he laid back down, which could!lead to discomfort.

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. 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 foam but lower density can feel soft when compressed.

Memory foam is a safe, nontoxic plastic called polyurethane, which is also used in insulation. Other ingredients are added to the polyurethane to increase its thickness and elastic properties. The chemicals in memory foam mattresses can sometimes have a strong plastic smell, but frequently washing sheets when using a new memory foam mattress can make the smell go away.