Analysis
by 2 DIY homebodies
Embedded Files
How to interpret the data:
How to interpret the data:
Due to our home lab setup, it's better to analyze the data in terms of how it performs relative to an N95 as a baseline.
How close does it filter like an N95? Is it more breathable, as breathable or harder to breathe through than an N95?
N95's breathability was measured at -31 cmH20 at 90L/m X 20mm diameter.
The closer the breathability number is to 0 (i.e. -8 is closer to 0 than -80), the more breathable it is.
The Best Materials
The Best Materials
While we can't guarantee that the air filter or vacuum bag are safe to breathe through -- don't contain fiber glass or causes cancer, they filter the most and are even easier to breathe than an N95.
2 layers of the air filter can even be combined with 1 layer of 100% flat-weave quilter's cotton to make a diy washable mask that is just as breathable as an N95 and filters pretty closely to an N95.
Filti
Filti
The Filtis perform next best for us, however since they are not as breathable as the air filters, they start to get harder to breathe than an N95 when placed in between i.e. thin cotton.
Halyard
Halyard
Halyards do a decent job filtering, however only the halyards 100-300s are as breathable as N95s.
Shop Towels
Shop Towels
We are still hoping to get a Wypall x80 which was touted to perform as well as a Zep. None were as breathable as the air filter to be put inside a cloth diy mask.
Paper Towel or Tissue Paper
Paper Towel or Tissue Paper
Paper towels or tissue paper either don't filter well and/or are not breathable. So according to these tests, they don't seem like the best filters to use. A shop towel would be better option of towels.
Cloth
Cloth
Since cloths don't generally filter very well, it may be best to pick the one that is most breathable so that a filter can be placed in between.
The 100% polyester quick dry uv shirt was very breathable and filtered at 76%. You could put 2 layers of air filter and it would be just as breathable and filter close to an N95.
Some DIY cloth materials can see large range of filter capability. It may be due to the stretchy quality of the material too.
Better close up of the materials can be viewed on the spreadsheet.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse