Coating expertise for sustainable comfort in face masks

Based on 100% woven cotton, the masks from Gorilla Protect GmbH, a subsidiary of fabric finishing company Nova Textil-Beschichtung GmbH, Grefrath/Germany, have both anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. Being a single layer product rather than the usual 3 layers has resulted in a significant advance in comfort for the wearer and because the mask is able to disinfect itself and helps regulate humidity, it can be worn a number of times without needing to be washed. It only needs to be washed when it gets dirty and can also be washed up to 20 times without losing its properties. The active ingredients in the finish are a reaction mass of titanium dioxide and silver chloride certified to ISO 20743 for their antibacterial effect, and to ISO 18184 for their antiviral effect. They are proven to eliminate over 99.99% of the human coronavirus 229 E, with the multiplication of micro-organisms such as germs and bacteria prevented by the biostatic action of silver salts and viruses destroyed by oxygen-releasing substances and a mechanism that attacks their fatty envelope. The virus membrane loses its cholesterol content and the virus is inactivated. The masks are finished on a Montex stenter from the manufacturer of textile machinery A. Monforts Textilmaschinen GmbH & Co. KG, Mönchengladbach/Germany.