304 



WET SUITS 



Electrically Heated Undergarment 



Preliminary work has been done to develop electrically heated undergarments. U.S. Rubber 

 has begun to develop techniques by which such garments can be made waterproof and stretch- 

 able. A thin, high-stretch immersible garment could be worn under almost any type diver's 

 suit; wet suit, dry suit, lightweight dress, standard dress, etc. Such a garment would be versa- 

 tile while moderately priced. 



Water-Heated Suit 



Plastic tubing incorporated into a stretch fabric holds great promise for heated diver's 

 suits. U.S. Rubber has developed a knitting technique for producing this structure. Figure 117 

 shows a stretch fabric-plastic tube sample. Hot water pumped through the tubing would serve 

 as the heat-release material. The advantage of this method of heat release is that it is directly 

 compatible with thermochemical and isotope power sources, whereas resistance wires are not. 

 Hot water also could be pumped into the suit via an insulated hose to the surface or to an under- 

 water habitat. 



Fig. 117. Stretch fabric, plastic tube material 



Other 



New developments in carbon-yarn technology should be monitored, since the material has 

 many merits. Materials research is necessary to provide superior insulation along with dura- 

 bility, maintainability, and mobility. The development of power sources would seem important. 

 Power sources more efficient than silver-zinc secondary batteries in terms of weight and 

 volume would be desirable. Lastly, the problem of thermal protection for swimmers and divers 

 should be considered vital enough to warrant a concentrated effort until good working solutions 

 are found. 



