‘6-layer mask becomes less efficient than N95 after washing’

Bhubaneswar: A study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Mineral and Material Technology (CSIR), Bhubaneswar, has found that the efficiency of the N95-layered mask reduces more than a simple N95 mask after being washed with detergent.
The surgical mask sees the reduction of the largest filtration capacity after being washed.
The findings of ‘Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency from Commercial Face Mask Materials on Respiratory Aerosol Drops’ are published in the ‘Journal of Air and Waste Management Associations’.
It revealed that the efficiency of the N95 mask layered was reduced by three percent after being washed, while the surgical mask fell by 11%.
According to the study, the efficiency of the N95 mask filtration without valves was reduced by two percent after washing detergent, while reduced four percent in the KN95 mask, three percent in the N95 mask with valves and 4% in a heavy cotton knitted mask.
It fell by 11% in a two-layer cotton mask, by six percent in a double-plated nylon mask, a double-plated t-shirt fabric with eight percent in a single-plated t-shirt mask.
“We conducted experiments in the acrylic room and observed mask filtration capacity at various levels in different conditions,” said Trupti Das, said the main scientist Bhubaneswar.
DAS is part of the five member research team, led by senior scientist Dr.
Ramaswamy Boopathy.
He said various masks in various forms, shapes, designs and materials are available on the market today.
Face masks have become an accessory of clothing and fashion trends.
This is mainly due to the current pandemic situation but facial masks are also very useful to be saved from air pollution, he said.
In this context, researchers have made efforts to study the efficiency of filtration from available commercial masks.
The study also revealed that the 6-layer N95 mask had the maximum filtration efficiency followed by N95 masks without valves, KN95 masks, N95 masks with valves, heavy knitted cotton masks, surgical masks and layers of cotton-2.
Observed that increasing knitting stitches in cotton masks tend to increase the efficiency of its filtration through material.
However, after washing the results differently.
So we recommend the use of multi-layer N95 masks followed by N95 masks without valves, KN95 or N95 with valve masks and others based on their efficiency, added scientists.