A research team in the US have produced a face mask that aims to eliminate viruses in droplets that are emitted by coughs and sneezes.

Led by Professor Jiaxing Huang of Northwestern University in Illinois, the team created a mask that not only contains anti-viral agents, but a mask that is also easily breathable. 

Whilst masks are an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses, exhaled droplets containing the virus can still escape from somebody that is wearing one.  

According to an article on The Engineer, during the production of the mask, Huang’s team found that different fabrics varying in fibre density modified the droplets when lined with phosphoric acid and copper salt. During the course of simulated inhalation experiments, looser fabrics with lower fibre density proved to sanitise 28% of escaped exhaled respiratory droplets by volume, whilst lint-free wipes which are a tighter fabric sanitised 82% of the escaped droplets.

“Where there is an outbreak of infectious respiratory disease, controlling the source is most effective in preventing viral spread,” said Haiyue Huang, who is a co-author of the study along with Jiaxing Huang.

“After they leave the source, respiratory droplets become more diffuse and more difficult to control.”