N95 masks get a 3D makeover and they can be recycled too! 

Face masks, especially the N95, have been our major shield against the novel coronavirus which took millions of lives. In fact, it still continues to serve humanity with its protective power against the life-threatening virus. While the mask industry has come a long way, the research is still on to make them more user-friendly. Keeping this in mind, recently, researchers at Haryana’s Amity University have come up with an N95 mask that uses 3D printing technology. The result? Well, it’s now more reusable, recyclable, washable, odourless, non-allergic and above all anti-microbial. Here’s more about it. 

How will you benefit from 3D printed N95 masks?  
For starters, the N95 masks backed by 3D technology have a four-layer filtration mechanism. The outer or the first layer is made from silicon and the filter is coated with nanoparticles. The second layer has a high-efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter, followed by 100 µm filter in the third layer and moisture absorbent filter in the fourth and final layer. It has an estimated average shelf life of 5 years. 

Sources reveal that this mask, apart from shielding us against COVID-19, can also block other respiratory infections and lung diseases like silicosis. In fact, it can be worn by workers in various sectors where there’s excessive exposure to dust: Cement factory, construction site, brick kilns, cotton factory and explosive industry. The good news, however, is that the mask can be modified, depending on the purpose, by simply altering the filter configuration. Interestingly, it will get a new name once its trademark and patent get approved and that name is Nano Breath. It is expected to deliver high versatile performance including particle size measurement, calculating zeta potential, molecular weight, particle mobile and more.  

Who developed these 3D-backed N95 masks? 
These masks with high preventive potential have been developed by Amity University in partnership with University of Nebraska in the USA. A facility named Zetasizer Nano ZS, undertaken by the Department of Science & Technology, and funded by the ‘Fund for Improvement of Science & Technology Infrastructure’ (FIST) project has been used for the design and development of this cutting-edge mask. Interestingly, high temperature thermal analysis for ceramic materials and catalysis applications have been deployed for the production of this mask.