296 



WET SUITS 



good offices of Union Carbide was laminated into the insulating sandwich material and evaluated 

 electrically. 



Table 43 

 DE LAMINATION PRESSURES OF ELECTRICALLY HEATED PROTOTYPE 



The resistance of an 8-in. length of the 2-3/4-in.-wide tape was 3.97 ohms prior to lami- 

 nation and 9.49 ohms afterward. The change in resistance can be explained by the poor elec- 

 trical contact between the carbon yarn and the copper tinsel used as the feed wires. Liquid 

 latex decreases the conductivity of these junctures in an uncontrolled fashion. The change of 

 resistivity with static loading was about 14 percent and 21 percent for the unlaminated tape and 

 the laminated tape, respectively. The change was a decreasing resistance which would result 

 in overheating in a garment. The static load was about 1.5 psi. 



It had to be concluded that such an approach would have to be delayed until some of the 

 engineering problems associated with carbon heaters are solved. 



Mark I, Mod. I Prototypes 



The electrical resistance of the Mark I, Mod. I wet-suit parts was measured using a 

 Wheatstone bridge. The values are given in Table 44. Variations in the resistances are due 

 principally to variations in the contact resistances of the Electro-Oceanics connectors. 



Table 44 

 MEASURED RESISTANCES IN OHMS OF THE SEALAB II SUIT PARTS 



The suit parts were tested for air-tightness as well as electrical resistance. 



The power-control boxes were pressure tested to 650 ft of sea water. The silver-zinc cells 

 were pressure tested to 150 psig. 



Eight suits were fabricated for Sealab n evaluations, based on measurements supplied by 

 the government for the following personnel: 



