A mask has been developed that retains its blocking performance even if it is used more than 20 times.

It is noted that it will be possible to solve the mask shortage caused by the spread of the new coronavirus infection (corona19).

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) revealed on the 16th that Professor Il-Doo Kim's research team at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering developed a nanofiber filter that maintains filter efficiency even after washing with an 'insulation block electrospinning method' that aligns or aligns nanofibers at right angles like a cross. The.

The existing melt-blown filter is a non-woven fabric in which fibers are randomly entangled, and the pore size is very different, so multiple filters must be overlapped to block even small particles.

In addition, the static electricity formed on the surface of the fiber disappears when it comes into contact with moisture, and after a certain period of time has passed since washing the mask or washing, the filter efficiency drops dramatically.

The filter made by the research team is made by crossing fine nanofibers at right angles or closely aligning them in a line. The pore size is small and the same.

Thanks to this, it can achieve the same blocking efficiency with a thinner thickness than conventional filters, and it is easy to breathe due to its good ventilation.

Particle blocking performance was maintained even after washing with ethanol or soap several times.

Although the research team hand-washed the filter with soap more than 20 times and soaked it in ethanol for more than 3 hours, the filter structure did not change and the performance was maintained at 94% of the initial performance.

Even if it was repeatedly bent over 4,000 times, it had a blocking effect of over KF80.

The research team created a mask that could be replaced by putting a filter inside the cotton mask.

After washing with ethanol spray or soap 10 to 20 times per filter, reuse it for more than a month with 2-3 filters.

Professor Kim said, "It can be reused with ethanol disinfection or light hand washing to solve the problem of mask shortage and environmental problems caused by disposal of the mask." "We plan to expand production and mass production facilities through related procedures such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Approval." Said.

(Photo = Yonhap News / KAIST)