Performance, Protection, and Sterilization of Face Mask Materials
utrf.tennessee.edu
utrf.tennessee.edu
N95 masks should be reserved for HCWs as there is a major shortage. Most people should just wear nonmedical fabric or homemade masks, but everyone should wear some kind of mask when out and near other people. See https://shouldiwearafacemask.com
- If it is true that soap kills the virus by breaking up it's outer lipid layer, does that mean soaps and degreasing agents and coatings may also kill it on surfaces like clear visors, gloves and other fabrics?
- While N95 (non oil particulate) masks are considered sufficient, and P and R 95+ (oil particulate filters) are not considered necessary - are those oil particulate filters also considered sufficient?
- can folded, oil-absorbant paper shop cloths provide more protection than cut-up t-shirts and regular cotton?
With more governments officially recommending DIY face masks for public, so that proper N95 masks can be left to the health care workers; I would love to get my mask scientifically tested.
[1]https://abishekmuthian.com/diy-qualitative-filter-face-mask/
I also wonder how such re-use of a mask combined with more durable N99 masks that are ordinarily rated at hundreds of hours for the filter (compared to 8 hours for your average N95 mask) could be used as a more permanent mask for households if only used occasionally when going to get groceries for example.
I think you answered your own question. Viruses only get killed if they're on copper for 4 hours, so it might be useful if you wanted a self-disinfecting mask, but if the material itself doesn't filter properly the antimicrobial properties of copper doesn't matter because the viruses fly straight through and aren't affected by the copper.
-Latest as of 3/29 V1.2 https://stanfordmedicine.box.com/v/covid19-PPE-1-1
If you can heat the masks that's cool, too, but then you have to make sure you don't damage the elastic or seal. Waiting will work.
however, while it appears to be unproven, given what we know about how long the virus survives on different materials, i would say that it is probable that leaving a mask aside in a dry spot for a week or so is effective at ensuring there are no viable viral particles remaining on the mask.
as long as we're using unproven decontamination methods, i'd say to also leave the external surface of the mask in direct sunshine for a few hours too.
as the OP paper notes, sun bleaching / UVR does degrade the quality of the filtration by a small amount (around 1.5% if i recall) but it's also effective at destroying viral particles in a short period.
from the article
"the FE (filtration efficiency) of these masks is influenced by the electrostatic charges embedded within the fibers of the filtration layer(s) in the interior part of the masks."
"... using alcohol will erase the charges. However, exposing the masks to air at elevated temperatures such as 70℃ for 30 minutes allows the charges to be retained."
https://community.anovaculinary.com/t/sous-vide-a-face-mask-...
So... we want the attention but not the risk of you taking our advice. If you have something of interest, why haven't you contacted people whose lives you could save?