I am familiar with ILD. But in looking recently at some latex pillows, a few of them state the density using numbers like 50K, 55K, 60K. What is this scale and is it related to ILD or measuring something else?
Hi botn,
The numbers like 50K, 55K, and 60K on latex pillows refer to the foam density and typically follow the K-scale for latex foam. The “K” stands for the kilogram-per-cubic-meter (kg/m³) unit of measurement, so when you see something like 50K, it indicates that the latex foam has a density of 50 kg per cubic meter.
This density measure is different from the ILD (Indentation Load Deflection) scale. ILD measures the firmness or softness of the foam by determining how much force it takes to compress the foam by a certain percentage (usually 25%) at a certain thickness. ILD is more about the “feel” or immediate responsiveness of the foam, while the K-scale or density scale is about the material’s overall weight or mass per volume.
If you are looking for a solid latex pillow, @CST has them and at very reasonable pricing. I recently got fit for the latex Oxygen Pillow and am waiting for it to arrive. It incorporates a different design vs the standard solid latex design. Most all latex pillows, in any form, are available in softer, medium and firmer feels and densities, the more dense the heavier the pillow.
Hopefully this helps,
Maverick