Can N95 masks block virus particles?

Many ordinary people have such questions. What is the difference between medical N95 masks and industrial N95 masks? Can industrial N95 masks protect against viruses? What is a surgical mask and why does it work?

This involves a problem. We wear masks for virus protection. What exactly are we protecting? Is it a virus particle?

Actually not!

0.3um=300nm, it can be seen that N95 masks cannot directly block the new coronavirus particles. For an intuitive example, compare the diameter of the coronavirus with the diameter of about 0.3um Since the diameter of masks is much higher than virus particles, what do we use masks to protect against? It is the attachment of the virus, droplets!

The spread of the virus in the outside world requires a carrier. Our common “droplet transmission” means that the virus is spread on our tiny saliva/body fluid particles. Due to the existence of liquid tension, the diameter of droplets is generally about 1-10 microns, which is much larger than the filter pore size of N95, so they cannot pass through the N95 filter layer.

Masks play a role in blocking viruses by blocking the entry of droplets. Therefore, N95 masks can completely play a protective role.