Thermal Characteristics of Damp Hydrophobic, Microfibrous Batt

Abstract

The thermal characteristics of damp, hydrophobic insulating material used primarily in underwater dry suit applications were investigated. Testing was performed in a Rapid-K Thermal Conductivity Instrument manufactured by Dynatech, Inc. A mathematical model of the process was proposed, and the results obtained using this model were compared to experimental results. The two agreed well except in the higher temperature range, where the model predicts higher thermal conductivities than those observed. However, for the region of interest agreement was good, and the model should be considered valid for the preliminary design of dry suits using hydrophobic batting as an insulator.