New Materials ?

[Ronald L]

A few years back there was quite a bit of interest in developing neutrally buoyant material that would insulate and could be used in wet suit's was just wondering if there was any current developments in this area?

 

[doole]

Yes, there were lots of gimmicks for a time involving lining things with tinfoil and so forth - is that what you're referring to? Most have gone away by now simply because people have realized that none of them were the faintest bit effective, I suppose.

"Neutrally bouyant insulation" is an oxymoron simply because water conducts heat, so in order to insulate, you have to displace water. So by definition, "insulation" can't be neutrally bouyant unless you add something heavier than water to it, which would probably be counter productive.

 

[SStrecker]

Some of those metal lining gimmicks are still around and being marketed by Henderson, Bare & others. Test results indicate that that have little thermal or bouyancy benefit. However, there may be some enhancement in ease-of-entry, odor resistance and wear & tear durability. Otherwise, DEMA and other sources do not seem to be offering anything new & effective to address your concerns. Maybe, next year.....

 

[Greg D.]

I'll wear as much insulation as needed bouyant or not, what they really need to come out with is a set of gills so I can get that damn tank off my back

 

[in_cavediver]

"Neutrally bouyant insulation" is an oxymoron simply because water conducts heat, so in order to insulate, you have to displace water. So by definition, "insulation" can't be neutrally bouyant unless you add something heavier than water to it, which would probably be counter productive.

The average densitiy of an object and its heat conductive capacity are not truly related. What I think is being asked is for a material that is non-compressable and has the exact density of water (IE, neutral at any depth). It then needs to provide insulation to the wearer.

Mike

 

[Don Burke]

The Rubatex suits are supposed to compress quite a bit less.

http://www.wetwear.com/

They are a little pricey for my taste.

 

[Greg D.]

yeah they compress less but for that price why not just spring for a dry suit?

 

[Don Burke]

yeah they compress less but for that price why not just spring for a dry suit?

I think they would be a good deal if you were diving in the right environment.

I need a drysuit to dive for part of the year here, so a neoprene wetsuit and a membrane drysuit cover it for me.

 

[Greg D.]

arround here dry suit is the rule, exept in july an august then its optional, usually its so hot in those months that you cant WAIT to get wet

Personally I hate wet suits, hard to get into hard to get out of, when its cold topside to suffer getting dressed and undressed. Getting in when its realy cold water and that water gets just about to your waist....BRRRRRRR

 

[Don Burke]

arround here dry suit is the rule, exept in july an august then its optional, usually its so hot in those months that you cant WAIT to get wet

Personally I hate wet suits, hard to get into hard to get out of, when its cold topside to suffer getting dressed and undressed. Getting in when its realy cold water and that water gets just about to your waist....BRRRRRRR

We have a pretty good stretch where the water temps are 55+, sometimes 60, and the air temps are 80+, sometimes 100. If it was like that all year, a Rubatex wetsuit might be an option for me.

The only wetsuits I have trouble with are the really thick ones, so I do not own any of those.