Increasingly, latex mattresses and pillows can be seen on store shelves and in advertising. Far from everything is explained why they are so good and why this material is suitable for a he althy sleep on it. So what is latex? And what is it used for?
What is latex?
For many people, information about the emergence of natural cotton, linen and silk is not surprising. But cloth made from tree sap? After learning what latex is and how it appears, many do not believe at first. And this material does not look like fabric at all, it looks and feels just like synthetic.
Strictly speaking, even natural latex is not, it is obtained in a special way from rubber - the juice of the Brazilian hevea, grown on plantations around the world. By the way, a substance similar in properties is familiar to almost any European - this is the milk of an ordinary dandelion. The raw material is processed, various ingredients are added to it, and at the output a homogeneous, first liquid, and later more viscous substance is obtained.
This material has unique properties, which is why its use is so widespread, but there is one serious drawback - for somepeople it is allergenic.
Faux latex
It's hard to imagine even more unnatural material, but it exists. Synthetic latex made from artificial rubber using emulsion polymerization technology differs in many ways from its counterpart obtained from natural raw materials. They are not exactly identical even in appearance, not to mention some important properties. But artificial is hypoallergenic, so it can successfully replace a fellow if such a need arises. In other cases, natural will be preferable. By the way, sometimes manufacturers mix these two varieties, obviously trying to reduce the cost of production, but retain the advantages of the material of natural origin.
Firstly, artificial latex absorbs water, although not much better than its counterpart. Secondly, it is odorless, while the natural one may initially have a specific aroma that disappears in a few days. In addition, synthetic latex is more rigid and "dry", and over time it becomes more brittle. Generally speaking, the quality of the final product depends entirely on the raw materials, sometimes the difference between artificial and natural material is minimal and almost imperceptible.
Properties
To the touch and appearance, this material is somewhat reminiscent of vinyl or rubber, but differs from them in chemical composition. The main properties that natural latex has are:
- Elasticity. This material stretches and flexes, but with easereturns to its previous form.
- Hygiene. Hevea juice initially has bactericidal properties, latex retains them, so that products made from this material do not accumulate dust, mold for a long time, and foreign "inhabitants" do not start.
- Durability. With careful use, pillows, mattresses, clothes and other latex items retain their properties for a long time.
- Softness. Products made of latex, although they keep their shape, are pleasant for the body.
- Thermoregulation. Sleep comfort is very important, so good thermal conductivity is a valuable asset for a mattress and pillow.
- Hydrophobicity. Natural latex does not absorb moisture at all, which often only increases its service life.
Modern application
There are a lot of areas for using this unusual material. Firstly, it is widely used in medicine - gloves, elastic bandages, bandages, plasters are made from it. Secondly, because of its properties, it is suitable for household items such as pillows, mattresses, linoleum. Thirdly, for make-up artists and props, this material has become a real find - masks, special face pads and much more. Finally, it is used in the production of clothing and footwear, especially sports shoes. They are not always made of latex, but with its use. And also balloons, condoms, baby pacifiers, etc. In addition, in the industry, latex is used in the processing of certain minerals, so the need for a large number ofplantations is no wonder.
Household items
What is latex in terms of its chemical structure? It looks like a porous sponge of round elements arranged in an orderly manner. They provide its elasticity and good heat dissipation. Therefore, latex pillows and mattresses have gained such popularity - similar materials cope with the task of providing comfort during sleep much worse. And over time, they become a real hotbed of dust mites that cause terrible allergies.
In addition, latex pillows are considered orthopedic, they ensure the correct position of the head and do not allow small nerves in the cervical spine to be pinched. As a result, a person after sleep feels really rested and ready for new achievements. It is also an excellent prevention of osteochondrosis, so people who care about their he alth choose latex. Reviews about sleeping on such pillows make you really think about purchasing such mattresses and pillows, because the quality of rest largely determines your well-being during the day.
As far as mattresses are concerned, another advantage is the absence of springs. Surely everyone at least once in their life slept on a terrible old sagging mattress. Every notch and bulge is felt there, and metal elements can also make unpleasant sounds. Soft or hard, but invariably elastic latex mattresses last a very long time and simply cannot cause such sensations. And if many are similarmaterials require a temperature increase to effectively shape the body, this is not necessary in this case.
Clothes
The fact that latex does not absorb moisture at all means that wearing it every day will not work. On the other hand, it can be well suited for outerwear in rainy weather, although it retains heat quite poorly. In addition, it is soft, in a word, it is a rather specific material.
However, latex clothing is often used as stage costumes for artists, and in the minds of the townsfolk it is associated with eroticism due to the "second skin" effect. It is unlikely that this compensates for the fact that at the slightest increase in temperature above room temperature in such an outfit it becomes very hot and uncomfortable. But couturiers are working hard to get girls to wear latex gloves and leggings, which, despite their impracticality, often look pretty pretty.
Flaws
The most serious and already mentioned minus of latex is that some people have a pathological reaction to it. This is due to its composition. What is latex anyway? Hevea juice contains special proteins, upon contact with which the body can react with an allergy. So natural material for them, unfortunately, is contraindicated. This greatly complicates their lives, because the result can be anything from simple skin irritation to anaphylactic shock and sometimes even death.
Another disadvantage of naturallatex, which can only bother you at first, is the smell. This not too pleasant property quickly disappears, but for some it can be terribly annoying. Occasionally he returns, but here the peculiarities of handling things come into play.
Care
Perhaps an important advantage of natural latex over other materials is its ease of handling. There are only a few features:
- should minimize exposure to direct sunlight;
- do not pierce with sharp objects;
- to clean, you can simply rinse in cool water and let it drain;
- if a foreign smell appears, place the product in a ventilated area.
Obviously, these rules are much simpler than the instructions that come with many other materials. By following them, you can be sure that any items, whether pillows, mattresses and latex clothes, will last long enough and well.
