Face masks and how they help fight against COVID-19

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the world, more and more people are starting to see how useful face masks are in stopping the spread of COVID-19. For some people, this is the first time that they have had to use a face mask and because of this many have been misusing them. Before reading this I would like to state that face masks should not be used in lieu of social distancing. Also, face masks should not be worn by children under the age of two, or someone with breathing problems.

How masks work

COVID-19 is an airborne virus contracted by breathing particles which contain the virus. Wearing a face mask, provides some protection against becoming infected by airborne viruses. To understand how face masks can protect you, it is important to know how they provide a barrier against airborne particles. Large particles are fairly easy to protect against by using woven materials that consist of a mesh pattern. Small and medium sized particles are harder to protect against. Face masks can protect against small particles by taking advantage of the fact that small particles typically have Brownian motion. Brownian motion is the seemingly random movement of a particle due to its interactions within a fluid (i.e. air). Due to Brownian motion, small particles are more likely to touch mask fibers. Face Masks sometimes have one last protective trick up their “sleeves“. The materials most face masks are made of, are electrostatically charged, which means particles are typically attracted to them. This allows face masks to work like a sticky maze, that traps unwanted particles from getting into your body.

What types of masks are out there

When looking into buying masks, you might be overwhelmed by the number of options, so this is meant to be a overview of the different types of masks.

N95 mask:

The N95 mask is a respirator that gets its name from its ability to filter out 95 percent of the particles in the air. These masks sometimes come with a one way valve for ease of breathing, however this can become a liability if the valve breaks. Breaks in the valve can allow air to get into a face mask. Air being allowed into a protective face mask, may compromise the mask’s ability to filter out particles in the air. There is also the N99 variation of this type of protective face mask, which is able to filter out 99 percent of the particles in the air.

Cloth mask:

This is a category of mask that includes most homemade face masks and bandanas. These masks are not great at protecting people from all of the particles in the air (including viruses and bacteria), but they do still have a use. Cloth masks are fairly cheap to make and can provide some protection from airborne particles. This allows many people who do not have access to a face mask to have some way of protecting themselves.

Disposable masks (N95 and non-N95):

Disposable masks are very similar to cloth masks in that they are made to be cheap/affordable. The biggest difference between these two is that disposable masks should be discarded at the end of a single use. Disposable N95 masks (also known as surgical masks) are better at filtering particles in the air, and are also useful in protecting others from the particles coming out of your own mouth. The downside of disposable face masks, is the fact that they can’t be cleaned and reused.

How to use a mask:

Knowledge of how to properly use a mask is essential to one's ability to stay safe during this pandemic. Sadly, many people do not know the proper way to use a mask and this might put them in danger. The most important thing when it comes to wearing a mask is a seal between the face and the mask that prevents air from carrying the virus in a gap between your face and the mask. This happens because it requires more energy to go through a mask, than slipping through a gap. To keep yourself safe, always make sure that your mask fits properly and snuggly on your face. By checking that your mask is being worn probably each time you leave your house, you decrease your chances of getting COVID-19. In addition to this, it is also recommended that you shave your facial hair, because facial hair can interfere with the seal the mask makes with your face.

Author: Brandon Knox, Peddie School

#thesynesthetes #science #technology #masks

References:

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Molina, A., Vyas, P., Khlystov, N., Kumar, S., Kothari, A., Deriso, D., . . . Prakash, M. (2020). Project 1000 x 1000: Centrifugal melt spinning for distributed manufacturing of N95 filtering facepiece respirators. Retrieved June 26, 2020, from https://arxiv.org/pdf/2004.13494.pdf

Reich, H. (Director). (2020, June 18). The Astounding Physics of N95 Masks [Video file]. Retrieved June 26, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdanPfQdCA

N95DECON. (2020, April 27). Retrieved June 27, 2020, from https://www.n95decon.org/