What is memory cotton? What material is memory cotton? Slow rebound, also known as Memory Foam, is a polyurethane polymer with an Open-cell structure, which has special viscoelastic properties, reflects very soft material properties, and has a strong impact energy absorption capacity. This material molecule is very sensitive to temperature, so it is also called warm memory sponge.
The birth of memory sponge can be traced back to a 1962 NASA study: The design of the Apollo Command Module rescue system, this material was developed for use on the seat of the spacecraft to absorb the huge impact caused by the rocket (spacecraft) takeoff, the spacecraft re-entry into the atmosphere, some unexpected situations (such as falling) to the astronaut, and improve the protection and comfort of the seat for the astronaut. Because memory sponge was originally born in the United States Space Agency, it is often called space memory sponge, meaning from the United States Space Agency technology. The technology was first mentioned in a NASA report, "Human Survival in Aircraft Emergencies," written by its inventor, Charles Yost, an engineer working at NASA at the time. In the 2005 NASA Spinoff document, "NASA Spinoff" 2005, a detailed description of the origins of memory sponge and the development and application of this technology in the following decades is given.
The Open-Cell molecules of this material will "Flow" when pressed and shift to fit the contoured contact surface of the pressure material, so that the pressure is evenly distributed throughout the contact surface, and when the pressure is removed, it will slowly return to its original shape. So this material was originally also known as "Slow Spring Back Foam". NASA's Ames Research Centre has fully applied the material to its new aircraft seat design, which not only provides good impact protection in the event of an accident, but also improves the comfort experience of passengers during long flights.