What is latex and how is it made?

Talalay Latex

Natural FloBeds Latex Mattresses come in 5 firmnesses for each half the bed and the security of a 100 Night Money Back Guarantee combined with FloBeds famous  “Goldilocks Guarantee” which allows you to change firmness for the 20 year life of your mattress.

What is Talalay Latex

• The Talalay method produces the finest latex available. The Talalay process steps:
• Liquid rubber whipped into a foam and poured into a mold.
• When closed the mold has rods that go through the foamed rubber.
• A vacuum is placed on the mold, which removes air bubbles/pockets and distributes the liquid rubber evenly through the mold.
• CO2 is run through the rods, freezing the foamed rubber and locking in the consistency.
• Heat sent through the rods, providing even temperature and yielding a consistent latex cores without air pockets or uneven firmnesses.
  Impact test results indicate an amazingly low loss of 2-8%.
  Talalay latex is only made in two facilites worldwide: Latex International in Connecticut and Radium in The Netherlands.
  Our Talalay is made with only natural rubber. We do not use Styrene Butadiene Rubber.
  Natural rubber makes up about 95% of the Talalay latex. Only the components needed to convert the material from a liquid to a solid that lasts are added: soap, ammonia, zinc oxide and sulfur. The ammonia evaporates and the soap and zinc oxide are washed out. The sulfur is needed to cure the product so that it bounces back after you sleep on it. A small amount of feldspar is used to help the material make a stronger bond.

What is Blended Talalay Latex?

Latex International’s (now Talalay Global) original  blended latex product Talatech Latex, is a blend of 30% natural rubber and 70% synthetic rubber (Styrene Butadiene Rubber or SBR).

What is Natural Talalay Latex?
Our 100% Natural Latex is also made with the Talalay process. We have found the Talalay to be the purest and most consistent Natural Latex. Our FloBeds Natural Latex is produced using no fillers, shortcuts or synthetic latex. It is made from 100% natural Latex Rubber Milk from the Rubber Tree.

Talalay Latex provides the most supple, body conforming and long lasting latex mattress.

Natural Talalay is always found in FloBeds pure 100% Natural Latex Mattresses surrounded by organic cotton and organic wool.

Is a firm edge better?

No. You want and get edge-to-edge comfort in our Talalay Latex Mattress. Many companies try to save money by eliminating latex from their “latex bed”.  A four inch “firm” edge of polyurethane foam will save 20% in latex costs. Yet, although it may start out feeling firmer, it will break down faster than the latex portion of the mattress. Two inches of polyurethane layers (“supersoft”, “contour-foam” or ???) will save another 20%. Your FloBeds will be 100% Talalay Latex, edge-to-edge and top-to-bottom!

How does Talalay latex compare to Dunlop latex?

Talalay latex is more supple and resilient. All latex is measured in ILD (indention load deflection) and a 32 ILD in Dunlop is not firmer than a 32 ILD in Talalay, although it is stiffer. We used to carry Dunlop in Natural before we were able to get the Talalay Natural. We did a study on how the two types of latex would “bounce” back after being compressed for long periods of time (like sleeping in your bed every night for years).

You can read more about Talalay manufacturing process vs. Dunlop process and  watch a movie of the results:

A 5 Year Study on the Resillency of latex: Talalay process vs Dunlop process.