Mouth-nose protection build: The best materials in the household

Everything indicates that there will be a temporary protective masks mandatory in Public as soon as the measures to be loosened. Anyone who has not finished, the mouth-nose protection the Council of Europe, must manage in the case of a self-made mask. The Max-Planck-Institute tested now, what household materials, most of the droplet interception.

Many materials found in every household, are able to particles and droplets from the air to intercept, which may contain infectious germs. So the risk of infection can be reduced with the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, in particular, if all the people wear in a public space to a mouth-nose protection. The Max-Planck-Institute for chemistry was now investigating, what fabrics, cloths and materials in the home is particularly well-droplet interception. This Material is suitable for the construction of a separate mouth-nose protection.

It must not be a purchased mask

What in Austria is already compulsory in supermarkets, is probably also due soon in Germany: Wearing mouth-nose protection masks in the public space. The National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina recommends, that with a loosening of the measures is not necessarily a Mouth guard-duty should go hand in hand (see: return Plan in the normality presented). But this must not be a purchased mask. Many household materials are most suitable for the construction of a dedicated mask.

What Material is suitable for the construction of a mouth-nose protection?

Researchers from the Max-Planck-Institute for chemistry, tested how well various substances from the budget are suitable for the construction of a separate mouth-nose protection mask. Many of the common materials performed amazingly well. Especially cotton fabrics such as Jersey, beaver fabric, and nonwoven of vacuum cleaner bags find very convincing.

The filter material is particularly well suited

The investigation showed that many different materials are suitable for the construction of a protective mask. In every household there should be such a Material. “We have found that all the investigated filter materials deposition, especially large particles of five microns and larger, very efficiently,” explains Frank Drewnick, Director of research in the Department of particle chemistry. In the case of filter material such as coffee filters and vacuum cleaner filters about 90 percent of the larger particles could be intercepted, which seem to play in the spread of Infection from a particularly Large.

Small droplets can worse be intercepted

In the case of particles that are smaller than 2.5 microns in size, reach most of the materials to their limit. But also in the area there are significant differences. So micro-fiber firmly held, for example, wipes less small particles than a vacuum cleaner non-woven, or a combination of cotton and beaver cloth. Even if corona viruses are about 100 nanometers in size, indicates the current state of knowledge, the fact that they are mainly transported with larger droplets.

The Material must allow enough air through

According to the Max-Planck-Institute are particularly well suited materials, through the well air can flow, the interception, but at the same time, many of the particles. This ensures that the face mask is also good can be breathed. When the air permeability with simultaneous high filter effect of a combination of Jersey and beaver fabric cut very well. But also double-layer solid cotton fabric, and a combination of vacuum bag material and cotton fabric were able to convince. Coffee filter to keep a lot of particles, but are hardly permeable to air and, therefore, not very practical, write the researchers.

Not only the Material counts

“Our data make no statement about how well a face mask protects actually. They help but may be in the selection of appropriate filter materials for self-stitched,“ stresses Drewnick. The effectiveness of a mask of many factors is dependent, such as, for example, the correct handling, like a lot of air to the mask flows, how often and in what way the mask is cleaned. In addition, factors such as skin compatibility, and comfort may play a role, this has not been taken into account in the investigation. (vb)