What is a 3PLY Surgical Face Masks?

What material is used to make a 3PLY surgical or medical face mask and how it is manufactured?

What is a Surgical Face Mask?

The Surgical Mask is used by healthcare professionals in the medical field to protect against disease, germs and viruses.

It helps prevent infections for staff and patients against aerosols (droplets suspended in the air).

It is also used by the public, to protect against allergies to pollen, against the Coronavirus pandemic and other diseases such as Influenza bioaerosols, Rhinovirus or Flu.

The surgical mask has become a common object with the pandemic we are living through.

What are the Type of Masks?

You have already noticed that there are many types of face protection.

Here is a quick guide to help you navigate your way through the masks:

Fabric Mask

FFP1 Mask

Also called dust mask, FFP1 are used in the construction industry or for DIY. It is not effective against viruses and bacteria. It filters at least 78% and lets air through up to 22%.

Ear loops are usually yellow in colour.

FFP2 Mask

The FFP2 mask can be used in medical use or in industry. Indeed, it protects like FPP1 with the addition of filtration against influenza-like viruses, SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2 and other rhinoviruses.

The FFP2 has at least 92% filtration and 8% air leakage.

FFP3 Mask

This is the mask that offers the best protection, in addition to the FFP1 st 2, it has a filtration of at least 98% and an air leakage of less than 2%.

Elastics are usually red in colour.

Note: FFP masks can be fitted with a valve to improve exhalation. As the air is unfiltered, it does not protect others from aerosols, so it is not recommended or prohibited in certain places.

Surgical Mask

The surgical mask is the most common, it is easily distinguished with its three folds visible on its front face. It is often blue in colour.

It is often called the Disposable Mask.

Filtration 90% to 98% minimum. 

Exists in 3 types of surgical masks:

• Type I : filter ≥  90%, non medical
• Type II : filter ≥ 95%, medical
• Type IIR : filter ≥ 98%, medical, droplets resistant

Overview of Masks:

How to Know if your Surgical Face Mask Protects you Well?

To be safe with a mask, the packaging must contain all information of the safety signs:

• CE marked Logo with BS EN 14683:2019
• Who distribute the mask.
• Where is the factory.
• Efficiency of filtration
• Material used to make the mask.

Be careful, some masks might contains allergen material likes latex.

What is the material used for Surgical Mask?

The surgical mask is composed almost entirely of plastic with 3 layers of non-woven fabrics (polypropylene), a plastic and / or metal nose bar as well as elastic bands in polyester and synthetic fibre such as Spandex, Lycra or elastane.

1) The Mask:

It is made of 3 layers of Polypropylene, one of the most common plastics, which is used for plastic chairs for example.

The term non-woven is used for this type of material.

2) The Nose Bridge:

It is designed partially or entirely of plastic with or without metal reinforcement. Some nose guards are made entirely of metal.

The clip must be flexible and keep the shape you want to give it, in order to fit the shape of the top of your nose to avoid leaks air.

3) Ear Loops :

Ear loops are mostly made of polyester and synthetic fibre (Spandex, Lycra or elastane) to ensure elasticity.

There are different shapes, some of which are tied like laces behind the head.

They should be soft so as not to irritate the back of the ears.

How to make a Surgical Mask?

3 Ply disposable face masks are made with 2 machines:

Face Mask machine able to combined layers together and add the nose wire inside:

Ear Loops machine that welds on the mask:

The average of production is 1 mask per second. 

Frequently Asked Questions of a Surgical Face Mask