A study on multi-layered surgical masks performance: permeability, filtration efficiency and breathability

Surgical masks have been widely used in the past for protection purposes against infection as a hygiene product. Masks, which are often used by healthcare professionals, are also widely used by the general public during pandemic periods. Surgical masks were designed in various ways according to colour, nose strip, earloop, grams per square meter and several layers. Some performance features are expected from these masks according to certain standards. In this study, it has been studied on multi-layered surgical masks. Thickness, air permeability, bacterial filtration efficiency and differential pressure properties of these masks consisting of polypropylene spun bond and melt-blown layers were investigated. The effects of an increase in grams per square meter, the number of layers and the melt-blown layer on the mentioned properties were determined. As a result; it has been observed that the optimal mask is one of the 4-ply masks. Also, it has been concluded that increasing the number of layers does not always provide an increase in performance; instead, an increase in grams per square meter can meet the expectation. Therefore, it can be said that it is necessary to determine the appropriate weight in grams and the appropriate number of layers with suitable raw materials to provide the expected features from the surgical masks.