Low cost, high efficiency mask design showcased by an Oxford study

A new Oxford Open Materials Science article, published by Oxford University Press, presents low-cost modifications to existing N95 masks that prolong their effectiveness and improve their reusability after disinfectants.

The Covid-19 crisis has increased demand for respiratory masks, with various models of DIY masks becoming popular alongside the commercially available N95. The usefulness of these masks is primarily based on the size of the aerosols they are able to filter and how long they can do so effectively.

Conventional masks like the N95 use a layered system and have a 95% effectiveness rate. Yet that rate begins to drop after someone wears them for more than eight hours. This is because the N95 masks were designed for single use. The high demand caused by COVID-19 has led people to disinfect them for reuse. As such, a team of scientists has developed various techniques for decontaminating and reusing respiratory masks based on experimental data and guidelines published by the Center for Disease Control.

The researchers here come up with a low-cost ($ 1) three-layer mask design that contains nylon, modified polypropylene, and non-woven cotton fabrics. While the polypropylene layer is available in N95 masks, this design features a blend of graphene oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride which acts as an active filtration layer. Recent studies show that the graphene oxide blend has high antibacterial activity, which makes it ideal for respiratory masks.

This coating has also been shown to be effective even after being disinfected with H2O2, a common practice when reusing masks. Adding these membranes results in a 95% efficiency level, like that of an N95, while also simplifying the number of layers in the design for added comfort.

“The opportunity to produce reusable and cost-effective N95 masks that can help the public health system and ordinary citizens motivated the work. We tried to take advantage of the link between electrostatic charge and the filtration efficiency of masks for submicron size particles and viruses. a design to make the N95 masks reusable, ”said Dr Rajalakshmi.

These simple and inexpensive modifications can provide people of all socio-economic classes with a durable, high-filtration respirator mask. (ANI)

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