Definition of Latex Foam
Meaning of the Term as it Pertains to Mattresses
What is Latex Foam?
Foam produced by manufacturing sap from rubber trees or synthetic liquids, latex foam is highly responsive and reacts much like memory foam. Mattresses made from latex foam earn high owner satisfaction ratings and are praised for their pain relief, motion isolation, comfort, and durability. Ideal for individuals with allergies, latex foam is naturally resistant to microorganisms. Highly breathable, latex foam discourages heat and moisture build-up, which allows the sleep surface to remain cool and inhibits growth of mold and mildew. Latex mattresses tend to be the most expensive mattress options on the market.
Latex foam can be manufactured through two different methods. The original method, called Dunlop, was developed in the late 1920s and involves pouring liquid latex on a conveyer belt and slowly heating it then slowly cooling it. Talalay, a more complex production process, was developed years later, and it produces softer and more buoyant-feeling foam. This process involves pouring liquid latex into a mold, flash-freezing it, flash-heating it, and cooling it. Latex foam can be 100% natural, 100% synthetic, or a blend of the two.
