Synthetic Blubber

[Saniflush]

Interesting concept.

Synthetic 'blubber' could triple divers' survival time in icy water

 

[Lorenzoid]

As I understand it, conventional neoprene for wetsuits, i.e., foamed neoprene, is made by foaming the neoprene with nitrogen. So, it seems obvious that to increase the insulating ability one would replace the nitrogen with argon, which is used as a drysuit inflation gas for that reason. Calling it "synthetic blubber" sounds like hype to me.

 

[rmssetc]

Calling it "synthetic blubber" sounds like hype to me.

Calling it blubber sounds like a marketing fail to me. Even the most out-of-shape, least body-conscious diver still probably doesn't want their clothing to be associated with the image of blubber.

Perhaps if this was a layer in a survival suit, the purchaser wouldn't mind the name.

 

[Dish]

I think "blubber" might have been coined by the writer of the article. Here's a different report of the same study:
Gas treatment lets wetsuits retain body heat 3 times longer

I could see some dive shop running with this. "Xenon Infusion" service for your wetsuit.

 

[Rollin]

Thermal insulation properties of argon used as a dry suit inflation gas. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[Lorenzoid]

Thermal insulation properties of argon used as a dry suit inflation gas. - PubMed - NCBI

It would be interesting to know whether the MIT team that "developed the process with the help of the US Navy" is aware of that study.

 

[Dish]

It would be interesting to know whether the MIT team that "developed the process with the help of the US Navy" is aware of that study.

I can ask.

 

[Akimbo]

It would take a far worse name than blubber to keep me from using a product that kept me warmer.

 

[АлександрД]

using Carbone dioxyde for dry suit inflation is much better, than any other "invented" rubbers and plastics.
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About two years ago, I completely switched to carbon dioxide gas. It is much more accessible and incomparably warmer than argon. Now I'm studying the effect of active heating of CO2. He made several hundred dives. The flight is normal.

 

[Rollin]

Why is it better than air?