Viscoelastic materials can conform to most body shapes and sizes.
Viscoelastic foams are made up of billions of spherical shaped, open cells that are temperature and weight sensitive.
Originally developed for NASA in the 1970s, visco-elastic foams were designed to conform to any individual's body and relieve the pressure of the tremendous G-forces experienced by astronauts during lift-off and flight. In 1991 a Swedish company, Fagerdala World Foams, introduced Tempur material, the vastly improved reinvention of the original NASA formula for home and medical use. Since that time, many other foam producers have introduced additional variations of viscoelastic foams of varying densities and quality.
Visco-elastic foams are made up of billions of spherical shaped, open cells that are temperature and weight sensitive, allowing it to become softer in warmer areas (where your body is making the most contact with the surface) and remain firmer in cooler areas (where less body contact is being made). Visco-elastic materials are able to conform to most body shapes and sizes — even the hard to reach lumbar area of your back. Conventional polyurethane foams are not as sensitive to temperature.
Viscoelastic foam offers outstanding pressure distribution and ease contact pressures. A layer of viscoelastic foam provides a cushion of comfort when used over a support base of conventional resilient foam. The combination of the two offers the best of both worlds.
Why some people don't like visco-elastic foam products
- Are visco-elastic foams hot and sweaty?
The manufacturers say, "No." We say, "Well... yes... sort of." Visco-elastic foams allow some air to travel throughout the material and dissipate body heat and moisture. However, all foams ventilate moisture poorly, and viscoelestic foams do radiate heat back to the body. Many people enjoy the extra warmth that a visco-elastic foams provide. On a viscoelastic mattress you may find you are comfortable with lighter or fewer blankets. Unfortunately, some do find a viscoelastic foam to be too hot and sweaty, and if used in bedding you might wake up in the morning in a pool of sweat. If you are a VERY sweaty sleeper, maybe you should consider an innerspring mattress and a buckwheat hull pillow!
- Are visco-elastic foams hard?
Some people think so. While the visco-elastic material conforms and distributes pressures beautifully, it can impart an inert sensation that some users interpret as hardness. We've only heard a few customers complain of this. Most simply feel comfortably supported.
The sensation of hardness in viscoelastic foams is most noticeable in a cold environment. The colder it gets, the harder the foam will be. On the other hand, when ambient temperatures are higher, the foams will feel much softer.
- Do visco-elastic foams provide good support?
Not really. Viscoelastic foams provide little support. Foams with "memory" have little resilience and do not return to their original shape when pressure is removed. Conventional foams are much more "resilient". Materials must be resiliet to provide support.
Article reproduced with permission from
ergoTALK.