MICROSPHERE-BASED COMPOSITE WETSUIT FOR INCOMPRESSIBLE PASSIVE THERMAL INSULATION
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Authors
Kwong-Wright, Andrew R.
Subjects
wetsuit
thermal
diver
insulation
depth
glass microspheres
thermal
diver
insulation
depth
glass microspheres
Advisors
Kartalov, Emil P.
Date of Issue
2021-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This research aims to produce an improved wetsuit designed to insulate divers at low temperatures and increased depths. Military divers currently use 7 mm thick neoprene wetsuits, which lose thermal performance at high depths due to compression of the material. This poses a serious problem to the safety of Navy divers and mission success. An improved wetsuit with better thermal insulation at high depths would improve mission duration, capabilities, and diver safety. Our wetsuit has a 3 mm neoprene base, with composite casts covering the chest, abdomen, back, and thighs, similar to plated armor. The composite material consists of 3M K1 glass microspheres embedded into a Sylgard 184 silicone elastomer. This provides better thermal insulation than the neoprene material and does not contract at increasing depths in the water. It also provides better mobility along the joints. The proof of concept of this design has been explored in previous projects, and the purpose of this research is to complete the suit with forearm, bicep, and shin panels and to gather extensive data comparing the composite wetsuit to 7 mm wetsuits. We use automated data loggers, external and internal to the suits, to collect temperature and pressure data in field tests. Further testing is required to find thermal improvement. Ideally, the final composite wetsuit will increase thermal insulation for the diver, while the thin material around the joints will provide increased mobility for mission success.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Physics (PH)
Organization
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NPS Report Number
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.