While we have looked at the benefits of memory foam mattresses the other type are supported by springs, which come in different amounts, usually 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000. The more expensive the bed, the more amounts of springs there are supporting it. It is recommended that while buying a bed it is argued that you should have at least 1000 springs, to provide the required comfort for a good night’s sleep.

Types of spring mattresses

1. Open Coil structure

These are linked together across the length and width of the mattress. They are common in children’s beds and are largely inexpensive to produce. However, over time these coils can start to fall out and become displaced, especially under the points of which the most pressure is put on it. This can cause a “hammock” type effect, leading to lack of support for the spine and lower back. This problem can be solved by inserting a piece of memory foam underneath to help take the pressure of the coils.

2. Pocket Springs

Pocket spring mattresses provide even support across the bed and can be found in the aforementioned quantities of 800-2000 springs, depending on the cost. These are not linked together, meaning that they can move to support the contours of your body while you sleep. If sleeping with a partner it helps to eliminate their movements too, meaning there is less chance of disturbing each other during sleep. Pocket spring beds have the advantage of lasting longer than open coil ones before any major repairs need to be carried out.

3. Pocket Memory Mattress Core

As the name suggests this is a combination of both pocket springs and memory foam. The disconnected spring technology still carries out its function of moving to support your body. The memory foam acts as further support for your body’s movements and pressure points. These combined provides a winning formula for a quality night’s sleep.

The benefits of Pocket Spring Beds

1. Reduces Partner Disturbance

This is the term used in the bedding industry for the movement felt by your partner tossing and turning or getting out of bed. While other mattress types may increase this, pocket spring systems reduce the external movement, reducing partner disturbance to a minimum.

2. Supports your body

As each spring is designed individually they can move in accordance with your pressure points and body shape.

3. Safe

The springs do not get hot or emit toxic fumes if set alight and yet they perform pretty much the same function as memory foam.

4. Comes in a range of tensions

Pocket springs come in a different tension, so you can choose whether you require soft, medium or firm support.

A Summary- Spring Mattresses vs Memory Foam

Your choice of bed and support is entirely up to you, as both types have their pros and cons. Your judgement when buying a bed should not be dictated to by the amount of springs underneath, or type of support it has, but also by the look and feel of it too.

What is memory foam?

Memory foam (also known as temper foam) is a soft type of material which is sensitive to temperature or pressure. It has the unique ability to reform itself when weight or heat is exerted on its surface. This type of material is commonly used in beds, seats and in protective equipment, such as helmets.

A Brief History

Memory foam was first produced in 1966 as part of the NASA space programme. This new form of “spring back foam,” was developed by engineer, Charles Yost and scientist, Chiharu Kubokawa. It was used to provide extra comfort for their astronauts, mainly by padding their seats in spacecraft to help deal with the pressure and forces encountered beyond the earth’s atmosphere. The following year, Yost set up his own company, Dynamic Systems Inc, which started producing this material for whoever required it.

One of his customers in 1974 was Beckton-Dickinson, who was interested in using the material inside football helmets to help protect the player’s head from the impacts endured in the sport. He ended up selling the business to them and they expanded its use to other products.
Memory foam could also be found in aircraft seating during the 1970s when commercial flights became popular.

By the 1980s the production of memory foam had become cheaper and more affordable to use in more products. Some companies still avoided it as there were still some difficulties in mass producing the material. One Swedish company, Fagerdala World Foams saw the foam’s potential in bed production.
In 1991 the Tempur-pedic Swedish mattress was launched, the first to be made with memory foam. This new idea of using memory foam on beds was extended commercially too. This material is now a common sight in hospitals, where layers of it are used to give patients extra comfort in their beds to protect them from sores and other defects caused by being bedridden. The material has been developed further in the 21st Century, making the foam mould itself to the body of the person, providing extra comfort and protection to its user.

How is Memory Foam made?

Memory foam is a combination of a polyol, dissocyanate and water. This creates a mix, which when heated, rises like bread, creating an open cell structure. This allows it to regain its shape when pressure is put on, due to the increased airflow through these cells.

How memory foam is graded

The properties of the memory foam can be graded in four ways:

Weight/Density

The foam can be made at different densities, ranging from 1-7lb. The higher the density the harder it is to make an indentation in the foam. Most quality memory foam for beds are made at around 5-6lb, making it more likely to form around the contours of an object which exerts pressure and heat onto it…i.e a person. This technology forms the basis of tempur mattresses on beds and pillows. The thickness of the foam is also important. In order to carry out its comforting properties it must be between 1.5-6in thick.

ILD Rating

How easy it is to make an imprint on the foam. The more amount of pressure needed to create an indentation the higher its ILD rating and the harder the material.

Resilience

This is how springy the foam is and the speed in which it re-forms to its original shape after heat or pressure is imparted on it. If a ball is dropped onto the foam’s surface, how long does it take to remould itself and how far would the object rebound off its surface? The harder the surface the further the ball will rebound off it, the smaller the indentation on the foam, then the less time it takes to go back to its original shape.

Tensile

This is how far the foam can be stretched, which is measured in pounds per sq inch.

Adaptations to problems

Since its first development by NASA in the 1960s the make-up of memory foam has been changed and adapted to create a better product and to eradicate some of its deficiencies.

Too hot and flammable- One drawback of memory phone has been that it can become too hot and indeed emit toxic fumes if ignited. Modern designers have developed ways to add extra airflow channels to the material and integrate cooling materials to reduce the risk of fire and divert sweat away from the body. When used in shoes an antibacterial layer is added to help keep the material cool and odour free.

Not environmentally friendly: Bio green Memory foam has been developed which eliminates some of the chemicals and gases found in the original one.
The invention of memory foam has revolutionised the way we sleep, providing comfort and support to quality beds throughout the world.