Tell Me More! Masks under the Microscope
The image on the left is a mask viewed under an electron microscope. Find the three images below that are from the same mask!
This mask is made of two sheets of the same material with a different material sandwiched in between. It's better at catching minute particles than normal disposable masks.
Which mask was under the electron microscope?
Well done!
Now, which mask were those images taken of?
There's one correct answer.
- N95 mask (non-woven fabric)
- Nylon polyurethane mask
- Gauze mask (antibacterial)
Correct!
Properties of N95* masks (non-woven fabric)
N95 masks contain a non-woven fabric made up of many layers of fibers, with each fiber only a few nanometers thick. The non-woven fabric is thicker than a normal disposable mask, so it's better at catching tiny particles.
*N95: a standard of the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that requires equipment to block at least 95% of all particles measuring 100 to 300 nanometers