Community Masks – from an Emergency Solution to an Innovation Booster for the Textile Industry

Journal article (2022)

Authors

Till Batt Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Gordon Herwig Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Simon Annaheim Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Pietro Clement Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Lea Furer Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Cordula Hirsch Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa)
Vincent Varanges Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Baris Caglar Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies - Aerospace Engineering , Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Véronique Michaud Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
More Authors... External organisation
Research Group
Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies (Aerospace Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2022 Till Batt, Gordon Herwig, Simon Annaheim, Pietro Clement, Lea Furer, Cordula Hirsch, Vincent Varanges, Baris Caglar, Véronique Michaud, More Authors
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2022.249
More Info
expand_more

Published Date

2022

Language

English

Faculty

Aerospace Engineering

Department

Aerospace Structures & Materials

Research Group

Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in shortages of personal protective equipment and medical devices in the initial phase. Agile small and medium-sized enterprises from regional textile industries reacted quickly. They delivered alternative products such as textile-based community masks in collaboration with industrial partners and research institutes from various sectors. The current mask materials and designs were further improved by integrating textiles with antiviral and antimicrobial properties and enhanced protection and comfort by novel textile/membrane combinations, key factors to increase the acceptance and compliance of mask wearing. The safety and sustainability of masks, as well as taking into account particular needs of vulnerable persons in our society, are new fields for textile-based innovations. These innovations developed for the next generation of facemasks have a high adaptability to other product segments, which make textiles an attractive material for hygienic applications and beyond.