Description

High-Quality Type II Surgical Mask (50 masks per pack)

Our surgical mask is a 3-ply (three-layer) design, with 2 sheets of “non-woven” (Spun Bon) fabric sandwiching a “melt-blown” layer in the middle. It’s the melt-blown layer that provides the filtering capability. A melt-blown material is also used in respirators, and thus you can imagine it’s more expensive and hard to come by recently, due to demand. The melt-blown layer is certified to N95 by the American FDA approved to NIOSH standards – part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

…it’s the melt-blown layer that provides the filtering capability…

The melt-blown fabric is made by melting plastic, then blowing it from either side at high velocity onto a rotating barrel. Done right, this results in a fabric composed of tiny filaments with some very impressive properties, filtration being the property of great use for this product. The melt-blown process is a nonwoven manufacturing system involving direct conversion of a polymer into continuous filaments, integrated with the conversion of the filaments into a random laid nonwoven fabric. First developments in this field of technology in the industrial area started around 1945. The general process description is similar to the spunlaid process, but in detail, both types of processes are quite different. Using the melt-blown technology, the spun filaments are accelerated by means of hot, fast-flowing air that is directly blown onto a moving substrate, creating a self-bonded web

…resulting in filament speed higher than sonic speed…

The hot air temperature is close to the used melt temperature. The achieved filament diameter is one magnitude lower compared to the spunlaid process, 1–5 μm. The calculated filament speed out of throughput and the measured filament diameter is resulting in filament speed higher than sonic speed. Since the used air geometries are not suitable to create supersonic speed, the airspeed cannot the single source of forces for the downsizing of the filaments. The addition of the forces out of the airspeed for the downsizing of the filaments and out of drag forces created within the free air jet is typical for the melt-blown process. This effect of combined forces results in a variation of filament diameters along the filaments, so the measured filament diameter distribution is relatively broad. Melt blown fabrics are mainly used for their barrier, filtration and their absorption properties

…designed to protect…

Protection from Surgical Mask

Whilst FFP2/FFP3 or N95/N100 is the gold standard as far as face protection goes, what about surgical masks, do they provide any protection? Strictly speaking, surgical masks are primarily designed to protect vulnerable patients from medical professionals. Stopping the wearer (e.g. surgeon) from spreading their germs when coughing/sneezing/speaking. So they’re designed to protect patients, not to protect the wearer

An obvious flaw with surgical masks compared to respirators is their lack of a tight face fit, which leaves gaps around the edges. There isn’t currently research available on the efficacy of surgical masks (or even respirators), for protecting wearers against the coronavirus. Although this isn’t totally surprising given how new the virus is

In lieu of that, the below looks at research around the use of surgical masks and N95 masks in the context of influenza, looking specifically at the protection given to the wearers. Influenza may be a good virus particle to compare it to, as they are both transmissible through droplets and aerosol, both cause respiratory infection, and both are similar in particle size

Surgical Mask – TYPE II

Protecting healthcare staff and patients from infectious diseases

Medical face mask, Type IIR – EN14683, features include:

• Pleat style with ear loops or ties
• Protective four-layer protection
• Splash resistant layer protection against blood and bodily fluids
• Available in a variety of colours and styles

Medical face masks help prevent large particles expelled by the wearer (e.g. spit, mucous) from reaching the patient or work environment and help protect the wearer from exposure to blood and/or bodily fluids from the patient or work environment.
Type IIR – EN14683 masks are appropriate for situations where exposure to blood and/or bodily fluids from the patient or work environment is at risk for the healthcare worker

Surgical Mask – TYPE II

Protecting healthcare staff and patients from infectious diseases

Medical face mask, Type II – EN14683, features include:

• Pleat style with ear loops or ties
• Protective three-layer construction
• Available in a variety of colours and styles

Medical face masks help prevent large particles expelled by the wearer (e.g. spit, mucous) from reaching the patient or work environment.
Type II – EN14683 masks are appropriate for situations where exposure to blood and/or bodily fluids from the patient or work environment is not a risk for the healthcare worker

Face masks are Personal Hygienic Products. We make great efforts to ensure that the product is as it left the factory. We are unable to accept a return or replace this product even if the parcel appears untouched.
Please read ALL of our descriptions and accept “NO RETURN / REPLACEMENT / REFUND POLICY” before buying

For higher filtration

High Quality N95 NR Fold Flat Respirator (box of 50)

Further reading

BBC – Article: Coronavirus: ‘Deadly masks’ claims debunked

BBC – Article: Coronavirus: Who should wear a face mask or face covering?

BBC – Article: Find out which masks offer the most protection and why

BBC – Article: Coronavirus: Why some countries wear face masks and others don’t

WHO – Resources: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks