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Estimating the filtration efficacy of cloth masks
Name
PhysRevFluids.6.114201.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
2.76 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
299767b80998fc8fe8bf532754e4ce9d
Author(s)
Mao, Xinyu
Hosoi, AE
Date Issued
November 5, 2021
Journal
Physical Review Fluids
Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)
Citation
Mao, Xinyu and Hosoi, AE. 2021. "Estimating the filtration efficacy of cloth masks." Physical Review Fluids, 6 (11).
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The current pandemic has spurred a great deal of debate about the use of cloth masks
as effective alternatives to medical masks for the general public. Despite an abundance of
experimental studies on the filtration of aerosols by cloth masks, there is currently a lack of
analytical understanding to predict mask performance a priori. In this study, we establish a
quantitative model for the pressure drop across woven heterogeneous cloth masks and their
filtration efficiencies for aerosols with aerodynamic diameters less than 1 μm. To compare
the intrinsic filtration capabilities of diverse materials, we introduce a filtration quality
factor. Finally, we present a decision map to illustrate the tradeoffs between filtration
efficiency and breathability and to provide practical guidance on the purchase of cloth
masks. For the most commonly used cotton, polyester, and polypropylene masks, the
mechanical filtration capability is fairly independent of the material, but it exhibits a
high sensitivity to the porosity and fiber diameter. Additionally, keys to a high-quality
cloth mask include a homogeneous structure, micro- or even nanofibrous materials, and a
suitable mass per unit area of the textile.
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
10.1103/physrevfluids.6.114201
