Australia Develops "Shark Prevention" Diving Clothing Material

Flinders University, Nan'ao, Australia has recently developed a diving suit material that may protect divers from shark bites.

The daily mail of 19 reported that the researchers created a new material by combining lightweight and strong "ultra high molecular weight polyethylene" fibers with chloroprene rubber commonly used in diving suits.

The researchers used the new material to make two different types of fabrics and tested them with ordinary diving fabrics. Charlie Wennils, chief executive of the project, showed that two new fabrics could provide a certain degree of protection for shark bites.

In the test, the researchers wrapped the steel plate containing sensors and put it into the sea to be bitten by the great white shark. At the same time, they tried to cut, tear and penetrate the fabric in the laboratory.

Hooven Niels said that the field and laboratory tests showed that compared with the commonly used fabrics, the fabric made of new materials was more difficult to penetrate, and the incision produced by cutting was smaller and lighter.

There are mostly white sharks behind human shark attacks. However, the risk of shark attack is still relatively low. The researchers hope to prove that the new material is strong enough to withstand the bite of great white sharks, thereby helping to reduce the risk of human diver injury.

Researchers say further tests are needed to test the effectiveness of diving suits made of new materials and physical injuries that people may encounter when diving suits.