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Insulation and material characteristics of smoothskin neoprene vs silicone-coated neoprene in surf wetsuits

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Abstract

Silicone applied to the exterior of jersey-lined neoprene may increase heat absorption and water repulsion without the loss of strength and durability observed in smoothskin neoprene. The purpose of this study was to compare skin temperature under silicone-coated jersey-lined neoprene and smoothskin neoprene during recreational surfing. A secondary purpose was to compare density, tensile strength, and tangent modulus of these materials. Thirty male surfers wore a 2-mm thick wetsuit designed with the chest and back panels on one side constructed of smoothskin neoprene and the other side silicone-coated neoprene (n = 30). Separate surf protocols were carried out in laboratory (n = 10) and field (n = 20) settings while skin temperature was collected bilaterally at the upper chest, upper back, abdomen, and lower back. In the field, skin temperatures under the smoothskin and silicone-coated neoprene were not significantly different at the upper chest, upper back, and lower back. In the laboratory, there were no significant differences in skin temperatures under the two materials at the upper chest and lower back. However, in both studies the skin temperatures were significantly higher under smoothskin neoprene at the abdomen (p < 0.01). In addition, the skin temperature at the upper back in the laboratory study was significantly higher underneath the silicone-coated neoprene (p < 0.01). Silicone-coated neoprene exhibited similar tensile strength but greater tangent modulus compared to smoothskin neoprene. These findings suggest that silicone-coated neoprene and smoothskin neoprene have similar thermal characteristics across most body sites but differ in tensile stiffness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, California State University, 333. S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd., San Marcos, CA, 92096, USA

    Megan Paterson, Bruce Moore, Sean C. Newcomer & Jeff A. Nessler

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  1. Megan Paterson
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  2. Bruce Moore
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  3. Sean C. Newcomer
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  4. Jeff A. Nessler
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Correspondence to Jeff A. Nessler.

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Experimental procedures were approved by the California State University-San Marcos Institutional Review Board (IRB#1302181).

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This article is a part of Topical Collection in Sports Engineering on Surf Engineering, Edited by Prof. Marc in het Panhuis, Prof. Luca Oggiano, Dr. David Shormann and Mr. Jimmy Freese.

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Paterson, M., Moore, B., Newcomer, S.C. et al. Insulation and material characteristics of smoothskin neoprene vs silicone-coated neoprene in surf wetsuits. Sports Eng 26, 23 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12283-023-00417-5

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