Why are non woven fabrics used for surgical masks?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for face masks. Made from different materials, face masks protect people and restrict the spread of viruses. But the most important question here is which type of mask is effective and can offer the maximum level of protection? Should you buy a non woven fabric mask or a face mask made of woven fabric? Different studies have proved that nonwovens are perfect for making face masks. Why? Let’s discuss this in detail. 

Non-Woven Fabrics- A Popular Type of Fabric In the Medical Industry

Face masks should be designed and developed in such a way that they can offer better protection while not compromising comfort. And for this, most face masks or surgical masks manufacturers use non woven fabric for mask production.

This is one type of natural as well as environmental protection material and comes with some impressive features. For example, flexible, no combustion, moisture-proof, easy to decompose, non-toxic, and can be recycled. All these features have made it an ideal material for surgical masks. 

Non-woven Surgical Masks

If you analyze, you will find that almost all disposable face masks are created using nonwovens. Speaking about their density, it can be around 20 to 25 grams per square meter. In general, this type of fabric can be made through weaving, spunbond, knitting, and other processes. Some manufacturers are using advanced technologies to make non woven fabric that can easily meet the performance demand.

These are cost-effective fabric options for masks, and your manufacturing cost will be very low. Due to their unique structure, they provide the users with better protection. Lastly, they are cleaner and hygienic as they are designed for single use. 

Non-Woven Surgical Face Masks Are Good To Stop COVID-19

As per a recently published report developed by the fastest supercomputer in the world, a surgical mask made using nonwoven fabric is quite effective and can block the spread of the virus through airborne respiratory droplets. 

The computer that can carry out 415+ quadrillion computations in a second conducted multiple simulations on three types of masks. And the results show that nonwoven masks are much better than masks made of polyester and cotton. 

Non-woven face masks are disposable masks that are widely used during the flu season, and now the COVID-19 outbreak has made the governments of countries make it mandatory to use such masks.

What Are The Experts Saying About This? 

Surgical face masks are generally made of non-woven polypropylene, and they are quite cheaper to manufacture in large numbers. Woven masks used in the study are generally made using cotton and used in some countries due to a shortage of non-woven masks.

As per the WHO-World Health Organization, this mask can be reused and provide the users with better breathability. However, before reusing them, you need to properly clean them using detergent or soap at least once a day. 

During the study, the scientists found that non-woven masks blocked almost all droplets produced through a cough. On the other hand, polyester and cotton face masks were less effective in blocking those droplets. They blocked around 80 percent of droplets. 

On the other hand, non woven fabric masks were found less effective at blocking droplets measuring around 20 micrometers. They can allow around 10 percent of droplets to escape through the mask. But this percentage is much better compared to other masks as cotton and polyester face mask allowed around 40 percent of droplets. 

Some Advantages of Nonwoven Fabrics

• Non-toxic- As food-grade materials are used, nonwovens are non-toxic. You can use the mask for hours without developing any skin irritation.
• Lightweight- With PP as the primary fabric, the amount is around 0.9. It feels good on the skin.
• Antibacterial- Polypropylene is not an insect or bacteria-eaten material. Besides, it can prevent the erosion of bacteria. Its antibacterial property makes it a perfect fabric for producing surgical face masks. 

If you want to establish your own face mask production business and are looking for a cost-effective fabric that can offer better protection from the virus, you can go for non woven fabric. However, to get good quality fabrics, it is advisable to work with a professional and reliable face mask fabrics manufacturer.