Hydrogel Embedded Foam Exposure Seals (HEFES)

Any effective dry suit, such as the CWU-86/P, has to ensure that water can not penetrate the neck, wrist and ankle locations. The current means of sealing at these locations is by using tight fitting rubber seals. These constrictive seals are effective at keeping water out of the dry suit should an immersion occur. However, the majority of the suits life is during normal operating conditions where it is not immersed. During these conditions the rubber seals restrict airflow causing over heating, discomfort and pilot fatigue. An opportunity exists to develop innovative garment seal designs that will allow airflow during normal operating conditions but will seal against the intrusion of cold water. To be fully effective the sealing device needs to be fast acting, comfortable to wear (both during normal operating conditions and immersed conditions) and not actuate via sweat, rain and other normal operating conditions. Mide proposes to leverage hydrogel embedded foam technology it developed as part of its successful bulkhead shaft seal SBIR program to provide fast acting, comfortable, water activated garment seals for our war fighters.