Breathable face mask aims to kill viruses in coughs and sneezes

By simulating inhalation, exhalation, coughs and sneezes in the laboratory, the researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois found that non-woven fabrics used in most masks work well to demonstrate the concept.

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A lint-free wipe with 19 per cent fibre density sanitised up to 82 per cent of escaped respiratory droplets by volume. Such fabrics do not make breathing more difficult, and the on-mask chemicals did not detach during simulated inhalation experiments. The research is published in the journal Matter.

"Masks are perhaps the most important component of the personal protective equipment [PPE] needed to fight a pandemic," said Northwestern's Jiaxing Huang, who led the study. "We quickly realised that a mask not only protects the person wearing it, but much more importantly, it protects others from being exposed to the droplets [and germs] released by the wearer.”

Huang is a professor of materials science and engineering in Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering. Graduate student Haiyue Huang and postdoctoral fellow Hun Park, both members of Huang's laboratory, are co-first authors of the paper.