Filter Media Database

This is a tracking page to follow the filter efficiency and physical properties of various types of face mask or ventilator filter materials - a central page to compare NOISH-approved N95 masks to new materials developed by the larger CBA COVID repsonse team (electrospining, rotary jet ) to DIY materials that could be easily sourced or readily available.

With the CDC now recommending everyone uses any type of makeshift mask before going out in public, and as more people become caretakers for sick family members, we should get a quantitative measurement of which type of household items are best for transmission protection, breathability, and longenvity.

Similar questions have been asked and answered before - Effficiency of homemade masks, filtering performance of 20 protective fabrics, etc. - this projects exists to verify and expand these findings, specialize them to known SARS-CoV-2 aerosol Characteristics, and provide an inital comparison for novel materials.

filtration efficiency testing is inspired by ASTM standards F2299 and F2101, but it's NOT intended to replace or be as rigorous as NOISH testing - more details here. the hope is two fold: (1) to provide convenient testing for materials developed in house before sending them to more rigorous and qualified testing labs, and (2) to provide comparative insight backed by quantitative measurement to the growing DIY mask movement.



click the mask name for more images & details
name image avg fiber diameter (um) thickness (mm) weight (g/cm^2) filter efficiency (%) pressure drop (psi)
3M_1000MPR 18.2 +/- 2.39 0.280
3M_1900MPR 15.93 +/- 0.72 0.319
3M_300MPR 23.94 +/- 1.61 0.292
3M_N95 21.5 +/- 2.52 0.721 0.0223
Arauco_BKP 35.96 +/- 11.15 1.8 0.0639
Arauco_EKP 15.46 +/- 5.18 1.3 0.0772
Arauco_UKP 35.44 +/- 11.07 1.6 0.0821
Gerson_N95 18.48 +/- 6.55 1.076 0.0306
HEPA 1.99 +/- 1.24 0.209
HV_PN13015AP2 3.63 +/- 1.59 0.081 0.0020
HV_TSP050PLUS 17.22 +/- 3.15 0.295 0.0064
HV_TSP050YA002 20.39 +/- 4.08 0.446 0.0143
HV_TSP100NS015 18.21 +/- 3.74 0.437 0.0152
HaylardH600 10.38 +/- 8.75 blue+white layer: 0.642, blue layer: 0.359, white layer: 0.310
KC_47117 14.03 +/- 13.69 0.184 0.0067
cotton 15.71 +/- 3.23 0.333
polyester 10.35 +/- 2.18 0.137
tyvek 8.71 +/- 6.24 0.143 0.0065