Once again, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences is demonstrating its ingenuity in the collective fight against the coronavirus. To provide enhanced protection against infection, it has developed a novel coating for respiratory masks made from biocompatible hybrid nanofibres.
To improve protection against the coronavirus, a research group at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, led by Professor Dr Amir Fahmi, Professor of Materials Science, has developed a coating made from biocompatible nanofibres for commercial respiratory masks. These fibres contain porous structures whose size is comparable to that of both coronaviruses and other airborne particles. Furthermore, their diameter is up to 40 times smaller than that of the fibres used in standard face masks.
The reduction in diameter, combined with the use of multiple layers of non-woven fabric featuring overlapping nanoscale voids, reduces the likelihood of disease-carrying particles being transmitted and enhances the effectiveness of the masks. This ensures significantly better protection not only against viruses, but also against bacteria and other allergens. “The advantage of the cost-effective technology we have developed is that the nanofibres can be used in any commercial mask without requiring major modifications,” explains Professor Fahmi. Furthermore, the modified masks can be worn without any further processing and do not impede breathing.
