College
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-04 07:41:07
Major
Chemical Engineering
Honors Course
4200:497
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2021
Abstract
Facemask requirements have been heavily implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to test various fabrics that could be used in face coverings and determine which materials are best for reducing virus transmission rates. Of the seven fabrics tested, five were conventional home-use fabrics and the other two were surfaces modified with hydrophobic organosilanes. Wettability and droplet adherence tests were performed on each material. The materials that performed the best were decyltrichlorosilane (DTS) modified cotton, perfluorotrichlorosilane (FTS) modified cotton, and polyester. Contact angles for water droplets on these fabrics were 106°, 93°, and 93°, respectively. For all other fabrics, droplets penetrated through the fabric, although imbibition rates varied significantly. In the droplet adherence study, number average droplet radii measured 0.66 mm for DTS modified cotton, 0.54 mm for FTS modified cotton, 0.76 mm for polyester. For other materials, droplets either quickly passed through or were absorbed by the fabric. Future work could include testing additional materials and further refining experimental procedures to help in distinguishing between the top performing fabrics. In addition, an extensive study on the safety of materials in contact with the skin is critical, especially for the modified surfaces.
Research Sponsor
Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby
First Reader
Dr. George Chase
Second Reader
Jeff Magistrelli
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Bi-min Zhang Newby
Recommended Citation
Daley, Isaac, "Testing the Effectiveness of Various Fabrics for Use in Protective Face Coverings" (2021). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1381.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1381
Included in
Other Materials Science and Engineering Commons, Thermodynamics Commons, Transport Phenomena Commons