Stavrina Asteriou
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a new necessity: face masks. In the early stages of the pandemic, there was a severe shortage of N95 masks, leading many to make their own fabric masks. T-shirt material is one such fabric that has been used to make face masks. But is it effective? Researchers at the University of Cambridge and Northwestern University tested the effectiveness of T-shirt fabric in filtering particles between 0.02 and 0.1 micrometres—the size of most viruses. They found that T-shirt fabric had a 40% droplet blocking efficiency as a single layer and a 98% efficiency as a double layer, exceeding that of medical masks while maintaining better breathability. Thus, T-shirt fabric can be an effective material for face masks, especially when used in multiple layers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness | T-shirt material has 40% or higher droplet blocking when used as a single layer. In two layers, T-shirt fabric had a 98% droplet blocking efficiency – exceeding that of the medical mask, while maintaining better breathability. |
| Breathability | T-shirt material is very breathable. The breathability of cotton T-shirt fabrics remains higher than a medical mask, even with three layers. |
| Reusability | T-shirt material works well while damp and works sufficiently after one laundry cycle. However, repeated washing degrades the fabric, so masks should not be reused indefinitely. |
What You'll Learn
T-shirt material is breathable and has high droplet-blocking efficiency
T-shirt material is a good option for masks as it is highly breathable and has a high droplet-blocking efficiency. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when N95 masks were in extremely short supply, homemade fabric masks were recommended as an alternative.
A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge and Northwestern University tested the breathability and droplet-blocking efficiency of common household fabrics, including T-shirt material. They found that T-shirt fabric had a 98% droplet-blocking efficiency when used in two layers, exceeding that of medical masks, while maintaining better breathability. This makes T-shirt material a good choice for homemade masks, as it effectively blocks droplets while still allowing for easy breathing.
The breathability of a mask is crucial, as a highly impermeable fabric will force airflow through the sides, defeating the purpose of the mask and giving a false sense of safety. T-shirt material strikes a good balance between breathability and droplet resistance, making it suitable for use in homemade masks.
In addition to its breathability and droplet-blocking efficiency, T-shirt material is also easily accessible and affordable, making it a convenient option for creating homemade masks. However, it is important to note that repeated washing can degrade the fabric over time, so homemade masks should not be reused indefinitely.
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T-shirt fabric is hydrophilic, which means it absorbs water
Hydrophilic materials, such as T-shirt fabric, are effective at blocking respiratory droplets produced by talking, breathing, coughing, and sneezing. These droplets can carry viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. By absorbing water, hydrophilic materials can trap virus-containing droplets and prevent their spread.
In a study conducted by the University of Illinois, common household fabrics, including T-shirt fabric, were tested for their breathability and droplet-blocking ability. The researchers found that two layers of T-shirt fabric had a 98% droplet-blocking efficiency, exceeding that of medical masks while maintaining better breathability. This high droplet-blocking efficiency is due to the hydrophilic nature of T-shirt fabric, which allows it to absorb and retain water droplets.
The hydrophilic property of T-shirt fabric is in contrast to medical masks, which are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. While medical masks use hydrophobic properties to prevent the passage of droplets, T-shirt fabric and other common household fabrics rely on their hydrophilic nature to block and retain droplets.
The use of T-shirt fabric as a face mask material has been further supported by other studies. For example, a 2020 study found that masks made of at least two layers of T-shirt fabric could be as protective against virus droplets as medical masks and more breathable. Additionally, the CDC recommends the use of non-valved multi-layer cloth masks, such as those made from T-shirt fabric, to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
In conclusion, T-shirt fabric is hydrophilic, and this property makes it effective at blocking respiratory droplets and reducing the spread of viruses. Its breathability and droplet-blocking efficiency make it a suitable material for face masks, especially in situations where medical masks are unavailable or in short supply.
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T-shirt material is a good choice for homemade masks
T-shirt fabric has been found to have 40% or higher droplet blocking efficiency when used as a single layer. Surprisingly, when used in two layers, it had a 98% droplet blocking efficiency, exceeding that of medical masks while maintaining better breathability. This makes it an excellent choice for homemade masks, which can be an effective tool to mitigate disease transmission when used alongside other interventions such as social distancing and regular handwashing.
The breathability of T-shirt fabric is an important advantage, as a highly impermeable fabric may force airflow through the sides of the mask, reducing its effectiveness. T-shirt material tends to have low droplet resistance, and its efficiency increases when used in two layers. Even with three layers, the breathability of cotton T-shirt fabric remains higher than that of a medical mask.
In addition to its breathability and droplet-blocking abilities, T-shirt fabric is easily accessible, making it a convenient option for creating homemade masks. It is important to note that while homemade masks made from T-shirt material can be effective, they should not be solely relied upon. They should be used in conjunction with other preventative measures such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, and following public health guidelines.
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T-shirt material is effective at blocking particles
In the study, T-shirt material had a 40% droplet blocking efficiency when used as a single layer. However, when used in two layers, T-shirt fabric had a 98% droplet blocking efficiency, exceeding that of a medical mask while maintaining better breathability. This makes T-shirt fabric a good choice for homemade masks, as it is highly breathable and effective at blocking particles.
The breathability of a mask is an important factor to consider, as a mask that blocks particles well but restricts breathing is not effective. The ideal mask fabric should be breathable and impermeable to high- and low-velocity droplets, which are produced during coughing and sneezing. T-shirt fabric strikes a good balance between breathability and droplet resistance, making it a suitable material for homemade masks.
In addition to its effectiveness in blocking particles, T-shirt fabric is easily accessible and affordable, making it a convenient option for those who need a quick and low-cost solution for a face mask. However, it is important to note that repeated washing can degrade the fabric, so masks made from T-shirt material should not be reused indefinitely.
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T-shirt material is less cumbersome than an actual shirt
T-shirt material is a good option for making masks at home, as it is highly breathable and can effectively block respiratory droplets. In fact, a study by the University of Illinois found that a two-layered T-shirt fabric mask had a 98% droplet blocking efficiency, exceeding that of a medical mask while maintaining better breathability. This is particularly important as a highly impermeable fabric is likely to be less breathable, and low breathability will force air through the sides of the mask, defeating its purpose.
The use of T-shirt material for masks is also supported by a 2020 study, which found that masks made of at least two layers of T-shirt fabric could be as protective against virus droplets as medical masks, and as breathable. This is further corroborated by another 2020 study, which recommends using two to four layers of plain-weave cotton or flannel of at least 100 threads per inch for cloth masks. While increasing the number of layers improves filtration, it also decreases breathability, so a balance must be struck.
The benefits of T-shirt material for masks are also evident when compared to other fabrics. For instance, denim is quite effective at blocking particles but is difficult to breathe through, making it a less suitable option for a mask. Similarly, while N95 masks are highly effective at blocking particles, they are easier to breathe through than most fabric combinations with similar levels of filtration.
In conclusion, T-shirt material is a suitable option for making masks due to its breathability and droplet-blocking efficiency. Its effectiveness is enhanced when used in multiple layers, and it compares favourably to other fabrics such as denim and medical masks.
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Frequently asked questions
T-shirt material is good for masks as it is breathable and has a high droplet blocking efficiency. A study by the University of Illinois found that two layers of T-shirt fabric had a 98% droplet blocking efficiency, exceeding that of medical masks while maintaining better breathability.
T-shirt material is easily accessible and can be used to make homemade masks. It is also breathable and has high droplet blocking efficiency, making it a good choice for mask makers.
T-shirt material compares favourably to other fabrics such as denim, which is effective at blocking particles but difficult to breathe through. A study by the University of Cambridge found that T-shirt fabric had higher droplet blocking efficiency than most common household fabrics and was more breathable than medical masks.
