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All About Talalay Latex
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What Is Latex?
By definition, latex is a rubber particle suspended in water. There are two types of rubber latex: natural rubber latex (NR), and man-made rubber latex (SBR - styrene butadiene rubber). A finished piece of latex foam can be 100% man-made (SBR), 100% natural (NR) or a blend of SBR and NR.
The latex foam used in every Pure Touch mattress is a proprietary blend of SBR and NR latex that provides the optimal balance of comfort and durability. NR latex is used for durability, as it inhibits tearing and can be stretched like a rubber band. SBR latex is used to help create a product that is resistant to body impressions and can be compressed time and again while still maintaining a showroom feel.
Healthy and Eco-FriendlyThe Pure Touch talalay latex process features natural biodegradable ingredients from renewable resources and water-based raw materials. Natural latex (NR) is a rubber based material that is extracted from the tropical hevea brasiliensis tree in the same manner as sap is extracted from maple trees. This latex is then collected and becomes the main ingredient in talalay latex foam.
Talalay latex foam has an open-cell structure that is naturally anti-microbial and inherently resistant to mold and mildew. Latex beds are also 300% more dust mite resistant than conventional mattresses. While latex allergies were a frequently discussed topic in the late 1990's, all Pure Touch latex foam is hypoallergenic. The process used to create talalay latex foam is completely different from that which is used to create many of the medical devices that commonly produce an allergic reaction, and the FDA has not reported a single allergy complaint stemming from the natural rubber found in talalay latex foam. All Pure Touch latex foams go through a five-stage washing process to remove excess soaps and proteins, and Pure Touch latex foams are frequently tested by outside laboratories to ensure their hypoallergenic status.
No harmful byproducts are released during the manufacture of Pure Touch latex foam. No solvents are used and nothing is released that damages the ozone layer. The process is so clean that air scrubbers and external filtration are not needed, as no harmful elements are emitted during the manufacturing process. Factory optimization allows for reduced energy usage during latex curing. Energy efficient lighting is employed and the foam rinsing process conserves water through a custom recycling program.
Oeko-Tex CertifiedPure Touch latex foam is certified by Oeko-Tex (Europe's highest environmental consumer product standard) to be free of harmful substances and chemicals.
Correct SupportPure Touch's talalay latex is the perfect mattress material. It's durable, sustainable, supportive and provides body-contouring pressure-point relief. The talalay vacuum-molded manufacturing process permits the creation of precise ranges of foam firmness from extra firm to super plush, allowing the product to be tailored to stomach, back or side sleepers. And talalay latex provides comfortable support to keep you in alignment, cradling your body all night and allowing you to awaken refreshed. No other polyurethane or visco-elastic memory foam product combines all of these features into one package like Pure Touch's talalay latex foam.
Blend SuperiorityThe Pure Touch NR/SBR blend superiority is shown in wear simulations. When put through the industry standard compression and impact tests, Pure Touch's talalay latex blend consistently outperforms all other latex products. The results showed:
- European talalay latex lost 73% more of its core height and 167% more of its ILD (softness) than Pure Touch's talalay latex.
- European dunlop latex lost 127% more of its core height and 167% more of its ILD (softness) than Pure Touch's talalay latex.
- Asian 100% natural (NR) latex lost 279% more of its core height and 150% more of its ILD (softness) than Pure Touch's talalay latex.
Producing Talalay Latex
All Pure Touch latex mattresses use talalay latex, the most advanced form of latex in the world. The talalay process involves six steps and the latex mixture is vacuum-formed, resulting in the most consistent latex possible. This process is superior to the older dunlop latex process, where a latex compound is prepared and the mixture is simply poured into a mold to cure.
The Pure Touch Six-Step Talalay Latex Process
1. CompoundingNatural latex (NR) is extracted from a rubber tree in a way similar to tapping a tree for maple syrup. This natural latex is mixed with a proprietary blend of man-made (SBR) latex to produce the most durable latex available. Soaps and rubber curing agents are precisely blended with the latex blend in a temperature controlled stainless steel tank. Quality checks are performed on pH, viscosity and temperature.
2. MoldingThe latex compound is then transferred to the pressroom where it is whipped to the consistency of soft-serve ice cream. A robotic arm evenly injects this foamed liquid latex into an aluminum pin core mold. The amount of foam injected is computerized to ensure precise product density. The mold is then sealed and a vacuum is formed to extract excess air and completely and evenly fill the mold cavity with the latex mixture. The mold is then chilled to -20 degrees Fahrenheit (unique to the talalay process) to prevent any particles from settling, ensuring consistent foam cell structure. Carbon dioxide is introduced to gel the latex and then the mold is heated to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, curing the foam as it is baked into its final state. The unique pin core structure of the mold ensures that the foam cures evenly and creates a breathable finished product.
3. WashingEvery piece of Pure Touch talalay latex foam is then placed on a conveyer belt and run through a five step fresh water washing process. Five banks of 12 self-cleaning water jets wash away residual soaps, curing agents and proteins. To reduce the maximum amount of residual materials from deep within the product, every piece of latex foam is squeezed to less than 4% of its total thickness between jet rinsing stages. This vital rinsing step, unique to the latex used in Pure Touch mattresses, improves product durability by removing excess residual curing agents and soaps that cause premature latex foam degradation.
4. DryingEach latex piece is next transported to a two-lane dryer. This completes the curing process and removes any residual moisture.
5. Quality TestingOnce dry, every Pure Touch latex piece undergoes a rigorous nine-point pressure/firmness/consistency test to ensure density and quality. The softness (Indentation Load Deflection - ILD) is measured to a consistency of +/- 2.5 pounds, a variance undetectable by the human hand. Most brands only test to the much wider ILD range of +/- 12 pounds.
6. FabricationThe finished latex cores and sheets are then fabricated to the required specifications for each individual Pure Touch mattress model. Environmentally sound and water soluble glue is used to create exceptionally secure bonds where multiple layers of latex foam are required.
Talalay Latex vs. Memory Foam
Talalay latex is shown to provide up to 31 percent more pressure point relief than visco-elastic memory foam, and is superior for contouring support. Talalay latex responds instantly as it supports your body's contours. Memory foam conforms more gradually and depends upon body heat to provide body conformance. Talalay latex is made from natural and sustainable materials, while visco-elastic foam is derived from plastics. Talalay latex provides instantaneous recovery as it supports with any body movement, while visco-elastic foam provides slower recovery. Talalay latex foam is open-celled and very breathable, while visco-elastic foam is not nearly as porous and has a semi-closed cell structure.
All Therapedic Pure Touch latex mattresses at Mattress To Go are Made in the U.S.A., with 100% of their components produced in the United States. Every Therapedic Pure Touch latex mattress also meets or exceeds the federal FR standard 16 CFR Part 1633, adopted July 1, 2007.
