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PROCEDURE FOR MAKING A THREE-LAYER FACE MASK FROM LOW COST, AVAILABLE MATERIALS |
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Innovators: Sourav Sarkar1, Achintya Mukhopadhyay1, Swarnendu Sen1, Safwan Mondal1, Arnav Banerjee1, Pranibesh Mandal1, Ratna Ghosh2, Constantine M. Megaridis3 & Ranjan Ganguly4 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata - 700 032, India. 2Department of Instrumentation and Electronics Engineering, Jadavpur University, Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata - 700 106, India. 3Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA. 4Department of Power Engineering, Jadavpur University, Salt Lake Campus, Kolkata - 700 106, India.
CAST, Jadavpur University has developed a simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) procedure for making a three-layer mask. The salient functional features of the masks are: (i) compared to the N-95 masks (which is strictly recommended for acute patients and the healthcare professionals), the masks are more breathable, so that general people can wear it over longer duration without any serious discomfort; (ii) the three layers prevent escape of droplets as the wearer sneezes through it, and at the same time the innermost layer of the mask remains dry to ensure comfort; (iii) the mask prevents ingress of droplets from the ambient during inhaling - both through the fabric and the gap between the face and the mask; (iv) the mask can be easily sanitized/disinfected for re-use.
It is to be made of three layers of fabric - the innermost, which is in contact with the person wearing it, the intermediate, and the outermost. The innermost and outermost layers are made of a commonly available, nonwoven, polypropylene fabric which has a mildly hydrophobic (water-hating) nature. Presently, we have proposed the cloth carry bags (which are often used as a substitute for plastic bags these days) as a quick option. The intermediate layer is made up of cotton/ cellulosic fibers that are intrinsically hydrophilic (water-loving). A material which we use is a cloth duster or cotton towel (the ubiquitous Bengali gamchha). One can use old cotton cloth also for this layer. The combination of the hydrophobic-hydrophilic-hydrophobic layers together allows one-way transport of liquid droplet. Therefore, when the person wearing it sneezes, the droplets shoot past the innermost layer and gets absorbed in the intermediate layer, but its further penetration past the outermost hydrophobic layer is prevented. Also, the innermost hydrophobic layer prevents back-flow of the soaked liquid, keeping the contact surface dry, thus ensuring human comfort and hygiene. Useful links:
1. Youtube Link of DIY mask making procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBOqofEaoOc 2. Youtube Link of Mask performance testing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l1x6oQTvwk&t=129s 3. Article: Sarkar, S., Mukhopadhyay, A., Sen, S. et al. Leveraging Wettability Engineering to Develop Three-Layer DIY Face Masks From Low-Cost Materials. Trans Indian Natl. Acad. Eng. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41403-020-00115-9 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41403-020-00115-9
CONTACT PERSON FOR IMPLEMENTATION/PURCHASE: Sourav Sarkar, E-Mail: souravsarkar.iitm@gmail.com |
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CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE SOCIAL TECHNOLOGIES |
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IDEA - INCUBATION - PRODUCTION-SOCIETY |
