Does Your Mask Have You Covered?

With the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, the global way we live has drastically changed, and the virus brought awareness of how important personal protective items are when being exposed to diseases and infection risks. Masks, which were worn so far primarily in Asian communities, are now visible everywhere around the globe as people are realizing that they are an essential tool to protect others and themselves against the spread of viruses.

In this context, many traditional textile manufacturers are looking for ways to help and willing to temporarily switch their production to reusable textile masks, as the standard nonwoven materials are in extremely short supply due to the unexpected hike in demand. Chemical technology leaders, such as Archroma, support the related developments of new materials by providing application development guidance on how to enhance the performance of the mask and provide better protection and more comfort for the user, and with prioritized allocation of stocks.

The face masks already established for medical, chemical or construction related end-uses, such as mouth-and-nose protective masks, usually have to comply to certified testing, where standards are in place which define strict test regimes. Exemplary standards, such as DIN EN 14683 or DIN EN 149 in Europe, ASTM F2100 in the US and GB/T 32610 in CHN, therefore determine filtration rates for bacteria respectively for aerosol-based contaminants. The masks used here are usually based on triple-layer nonwoven material, where very fine fibers provide filtration rates beyond 95% for bacteria, or up to 99% for fine dust particles.

However, these performance criteria are neither mandatory nor clearly defined for private use masks.
Common materials used for non-medical purpose consist of 1 to 3 layers fabric.

To improve the protection level of these reusable textile masks, it is advisable to apply surface energy reduction to minimize the adherence of sneezes and droplets, as well as an antibacterial finish to reduce the growth of bacteria. This is where chemistry, such as Archroma's repellent Nuva® N technology, which offers maximum surface energy reduction, is wash resistant at the recommended 70°C (158°F), and also compatible with antibacterial finishes such as Sanitized®, comes to help.

Since the applied chemistries are designed to work against external factors, direct skin contact should be avoided, which is the reason why these modifications usually can be found in the middle and outer layer of high quality masks. The hydrophobic outer layer repels sneezes and cough contaminated droplets, and does not allow adherence and easy penetration through the mask. The antibacterial middle layer protects from the vapor deposited contaminants from our breath, and the use of highly effective non-particulate systems keeps airflow properties at optimum level.

Therefore, when we think of using a protective mask, the better choice should be using an enhanced textile mask rather than a basic one.

Archroma's latest-generation Nuva® N comprises high purity repellents that help to create a barrier effect when used in masks, as they enable polypropylene or polyester fibers already at the lowest dosages to become highly hydrophobic. In addition, they also modify cotton or cellulosic fibers to repel water or lipophilic pathogens. And the antibacterial additives provided from our longtime technology partner Sanitized, a global leader in hygiene protection headquartered in Switzerland, meet the highest standards for professional health care but also provide reliable protection for consumer goods.

Go to responsible and expert chemistry suppliers, such as Archroma and Sanitized, to secure higher protection levels.

It's our nature, after all.

Thomas Seeger

Thomas Seeger is Global Business Development Project Manager, Finishing, for Archroma's Brand & Performance Textile Specialties Business. He is operating from Archroma's Shanghai office In China.

Michael Schuhmann

Michael Schuhmann is Global Business Development Manager, Finishing, for Archroma's Brand & Performance Textile Specialties Business. He is based in Archroma's head office in Reinach, Switzerland.