Researchers revealed the type of the most effective face mask

News24xx.com - Until now, masks have become an indispensable part of our get-up these days when we step out of the house.

Disposable three-ply masks may offer better filtration against viral particles and cloth masks prevent viral particles from landing on your face and getting into your bodily system.

A previous study by an Asian-based social enterprise found that denim, canvas, and high-thread-count bedsheets provide the best filtration, but the trade-off may be on breathability.

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Based on another study published by the American Chemical Society (ACS) in April, researchers found that one layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon — a sheer fabric often used in evening gowns — filtered out the at least 80 percent of aerosol particles that are smaller than 300 nm (coronavirus particles have an average diameter of 125nm).

Substituting chiffon for silk or flannel (65 percent cotton and 35 percent polyester) produced similar results.

Chiffon being an effective layer to include in your cloth masks may come as a surprise, considering the sheerness of the fabric.

However, the study found that chiffon and other similar fabrics, like silk, hold an electrostatic charge, which repels particles.

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As tightly-woven cotton fabric acts as a "mechanical barrier" to particles, a combination of chiffon and cotton layers leverages on both the mechanical and electrostatic filtering and "may be an effective approach", said researchers

The most important thing to watch out for though is to ensure that the mask fits well for the wearer's protection. Research says that even a one percent gap can reduce the filtering efficiency of a face mask by 50 percent or more, regardless of material.