Performance and electret charge of N95 respirators after decontamination [Slides]

Conference · Fri Feb 25 04:00:00 EST 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2001725· OSTI ID:2001725

Grillet, Anne Mary ^[1]; Storch, Steven ^[1]; Nemer, Martin ^[1]; Sanchez, Andres L. ^[1]; Ashley, Joseph ^[1]; Piekos, Edward S. ^[1]; Hurwitz, Ivy ^[2]; Perkins, Douglas J. ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
2. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Filtration, pressure drop and quantitative fit of N95 respirators were robust to several decontamination methods including vaporous hydrogen peroxide, wet heat, bleach, and ultraviolet light. Bleach may not have penetrated the hydrophobic outer layers of the N95 respirator. Isopropyl alcohol and detergent both severely degraded the electrostatic charge of the electret filtration layer. First data in N95 respirators that the loss of filtration efficiency was directly correlated with loss of surface potential on the filtration layer. The pressure drop was unchanged, so loss of filtration efficacy would not be apparent during a user seal check. Mechanical straps degrade with repeated mechanical cycling during extended use. Decontamination did not appear to degrade the elastic straps. Significant loss of strap elasticity would be apparent during a user negative pressure seal check.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
• DOE Contract Number: NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 2001725
• Report Number(s): SAND2022--1497C; 703360
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE