How are Latex Mattresses Made?
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Natural latex mattresses are derived from the milky sap of the rubber tree.Most of the world’s rubber plantations are located in East Asian countries like Malaysia. The trees are not harmed during the harvesting process. Instead, skilled workers cut into an artery located under the rubber tree’s bark and allows the sap to drain out of the tree where it is collected. Fresh latex has a short shelf-life, so it has to be rushed to a processing plant within hours of being removed from the tree.
Once processed, the liquid latex is ready to be used in the manufacture of a latex mattress. There are two methods of processing latex - Talalay and Dunlop.
It is very hard to say which is better, even though many people have chimed in on the discussion over recent years. Talalay mattresses tend to provide a softer feel, are more expensive and considered by many to be superior. Dunlop mattresses, on the other hand, are denser and provide a firmer feel that many users cheer. They are also cheaper and comprise a significantly larger share of the latex mattress market.
In the Dunlop method, the liquid latex is whipped into a froth using a centrifuge in order to evenly distribute air bubbles in the mixture. Once the liquid is prepared, it is poured into a pre-made mold and steam baked until it completely hardens and is ready for use as a mattress.
The Talalay method adds an additional step to the process. After the liquid latex is frothed in the centrifuge it is transferred to a vacuum chamber where it is flash frozen before it is baked. The result is a mattress with more consistent cell structures and distribution of weight.
Polyurethane-based latex and natural and synthetic latex blends can also be manufactured using the Dunlop and Talalaly methods.
