Bengaluru: With masks now part of everyday clothes but with many who are able to pay effectively, researchers at the Indian Science Institute (IISC) said three layer cotton towels are the next best alternative to N95 or surgical masks.
Researchers conducted a detailed study of the influence of replacement cough droplets that escape at different speeds – according to mild to severe cough – on various fabric fabrics obtained locally, especially those used every day such as stoles, handkerchiefs, cotton towels, and mask surgery .
“Based on their findings, the researchers recommend using cotton towels [with at least three layers] as a face that covers if the person cannot use N95 or surgical mask,” IISC said.
This research was conducted by Bal Krishhan, Dipendra Gupta, Gautham Vadlamudi and Shubham Sharma under the guidance of Prof.
Saptarshi Basu from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Prof.
Dipshikha Chakravortty from the Department of Microbiology and Biology of the cell.
The researchers say the mask with three or more layers is ideally recommended as a measure of security against diseases such as Covid-19 because they can significantly suppress aerosolization.
Earlier, another study conducted by the basu and his team found that when someone coughed, the droplets were large – more than 200 microns – hit the surface of the inside of the mask at high speed, penetrating the cloth and ‘atomize’ to be smaller droplets, which have more opportunities Great for aerosolization, thus carrying a virus like a novel Coronavirus with them.
As reported by TOI, the team, using a high-speed camera, has tracked the impact of individual cough droplets on a single mask, double and multi-layered, and recorded the distribution of ‘daughter’ droplets after penetrating fabric.
The researchers found that with single masks and multiple plated, most of the droplets of boys were smaller than 100 microns and had the potential to become aerosol, which could remain suspended in the air for a long time and could potentially cause infection.
“You are protected, but other people around you may not,” said Basu, and the team had concluded that three-fold layered masks and N95 masks were found to succeed in preventing atomization, and therefore offered the best protection.
However, the researchers clarified that when mandated by health officials, even single-plated masks offer protection and must be used if there is no alternative.
The study was carried out in collaboration with scientists at UC San Diego and the University of Toronto Engineering.
In the latest research involving the basu and chakravorty team, the researchers also analyzed the effect of washing the effectiveness of masks.
The researchers say that according to the results, there is an influence that can be ignored from washing on mask efficacy of up to 70 cycles of washing.