Memory Foam Mattress Glossary
Terms You Should Know Before You Shop for a Memory Foam Mattress
Cover – The cover or ticking is the outside of the mattress. In the case of a memory foam mattress, it is a cover rather than a sewn ticking.
Density – The way the weight of memory foam is measured. This is measured by the cubic foot. Lbs./cubic foot is the US unit of density. For example, if memory foam weighs 4 lbs./cubic foot, this means is that a cube of the foam one foot in each dimension – length x width x height – would weigh four pounds.
IFD – Sometimes called ILD. This is a measure of how firm a foam is. It measures the initial deflection of the foam under a load. The higher this number, the firmer the foam is. Foam used in bed cores is often a 30 IFD or higher, and those used in car seating might be 40 – 50 or higher. A desirable IFD for memory foam may fall in the range of 10 – 15.
ILD – See the definition of IFD. This is the old term, but it is still sometimes used.
Mattress Core – This is the basic core of the mattress. In the case of a memory foam mattress, it is the core foam that the memory foam is layered on plus the cover or ticking. The cover or ticking is the outside of the mattress. On a memory foam mattress, it is a cover rather than a sewn ticking.
PBDE – Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether. A man-made fire retardant chemical sometimes used in mattresses. This chemical does not breakdown quickly and remains in the environment for a long time. There are three types of PBDEs used in consumer products. The type of PBDE used in mattresses is called Penta.
Penta – The type of PBDE used in polyurethane foam such as in mattresses, seat cushions, other upholstered furniture, and rigid insulation.
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether – Also known as PBDE. A man-made fire retardant chemical sometimes used in mattresses. This chemical does not breakdown quickly and remains in the environment for a long time. There are three types of PBDEs used in consumer products. The type of PDBE used in mattresses is called Penta.
Ticking – The ticking or cover is the outside of the mattress. In the case of a memory foam mattress, it is a cover rather than a sewn ticking.
Visco or Visco-Elastic – This is another term for memory foam since it has a viscous nature (firmer at colder temperatures and softer or more elastic at warmer temperatures).