Abstract
The permeability of butyl rubber to pressurized water was measured at 10,000 psi hydrostatic pressure using a relatively simple method which consisted of constructing pouches from rubber, filling these with desiccant and exposing them to pressurized water. At this high hydrostatic pressure the permeability was found to be smaller than at atmospheric pressure which suggests the suitability of butyl rubber for the construction of hydrophone boots used at great depths. Similar results found by other investigators for other polymeric materials are cited. A thermodynamic analysis of the process of permeation by activated diffusion was made and a mechanism was discussed which explains the decrease in permeability of butyl rubber to water with increased pressure.

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