Hydrogel Embedded Foam Exposure Seals (HEFES) Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-106 Topic Title: Hydrogel Embedded Foam Exposure Seals (HEFES) Proposal No.: N112-106-1183 Firm: Mide Technology Corporation 200 Boston Avenue Suite 1000 Medford, Massachusetts 02155-3502 Contact: Marthinus Schoor Phone: (781) 306-0609 Web Site: www.mide.com Abstract: 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. Mid� 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. Benefits: This problem has plagued the dry suit industry for its entire existence. Aviators, oil platform workers, commercial maritime professionals often require a dry suit when operating in cold water locations. All of these users would benefit from the technology Mid� is proposing. There are also a host of additional applications for this technology. This proposal is based on a successful Phase III effort for water activated bulkhead shaft seals for the US Navy. There are other applications which could benefit from this approach including oil riser pipes as well as ship vents. Return