A new study about N95 mask and its reusable possiblity

In a new study published this month in the “American Chemical Society Nano”, researchers sprayed liquid containing the new coronavirus on the meltblown cloth, the main filter component of N95 masks. After these cloths are dry, the researchers heat and humidity them, exposing them to temperatures of 25 to 95 degrees Celsius for up to 30 minutes, with a maximum relative humidity of 100%.

The higher the temperature, the less viruses the scientists found on these meltblown cloth samples. But at the highest temperature, the researchers found that the meltblown cloth lost part of its filtering capacity.

Tests have shown that the most effective point for both disinfecting and maintaining material quality is 85 degrees Celsius and 100% relative humidity.

When the researchers performed similar tests on the coronavirus that causes the common cold and the Chikungunya virus, they got similar results. The results showed that masks can be processed repeatedly up to 20 times before their filtering capacity begins to decline.

Scientists say that their disinfection methods should be adopted by hospitals and medical staff to ease the pressure on the supply of personal protective equipment. They also said that repeated use of N95 masks has environmental and economic benefits.