Research Excellence

With an effective vaccine still some way off, face masks offer an affordable and effective tool in the fight against COVID-19, which has already claimed more than 1.15 million lives. When worn correctly, a simple disposable or cloth mask can block droplets that are launched from the mouth and nose while talking, coughing, or sneezing – one of the main routes of transmission of this highly infectious virus.

However, some face masks are more effective than others. With production ramping up worldwide to meet unprecedented demand, and huge volumes of discarded masks already washing up on shorelines, Dr Joanne Yip of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) recognised the urgent need for an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative. She is part of a team responsible for an innovative project conducted to develop a high-performing antiviral, washable and reusable mask registered as PU30TM.

Drawing on the rich expertise of ITC, the team tested various textiles to find the optimal combination for their three-layer mask. The cotton outer layer has an antibacterial and water-repellent coating that allows the mask to be washed and reused as many as 30 times. The middle layer is PTFE nano-fibres membrane with outstanding filtration efficiency. Against the skin, a cotton and Lycra blend offers both comfort and water absorption. Together, these layers reduce viral particle intake and bacterial spraying while coughing by more than 99%.

The team’s next step was to test their design. Cooperating with Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited, they recruited sewing workers who were unemployed due to COVID-19. Undergraduates in fashion disciplines also had the chance to put their knowledge into practice by sewing, testing and even marketing the new masks. Up to September 2020, 30,000 PU30TM masks were donated to the community including local schools and elderly centres.

This not only benefited those in need, but also enabled the ITC team to refine their design. “Based on users’ feedback, we are continuously improving our mask,” explains Dr Yip. The latest versions come in fashionable colours and digital prints, and some are three-dimensional, offering an enhanced fit and thus greater safety. As the pandemic continues, the team’s pioneering research will undoubtedly find many more applications in personal protective equipment and beyond.

領先創新的全民口罩

2019冠狀病毒至今已奪去超過115萬人的生命，在疫苗尚未面世的時候，口罩就是在抗疫戰上有效而大部份人可負擔的工具。只要正確配戴，一個簡單的即棄式或布製口罩便能阻擋說話、咳嗽或打噴嚏時噴發的飛沬，切斷這種傳染力極高病毒的其中一條主要傳播路線。

然而，有些口罩的功能會比其他產品高。現時全球各地都在擴大產量來滿足前所未有的需求。結果，大量被棄置的口罩已紛紛在海岸線湧現。紡織及服裝學系的葉曉雲博士意識到我們急需價錢合理而又顧及環保的其他選擇。她的團隊所進行的創新研究，便開發出一款高效能防病毒、可清洗、能重用的口罩，註冊商標為PU30TM。

團隊憑藉紡織及服裝學系豐富的專業知識，已完成了多種物料的測試，為他們的三層口罩找出最優化的組合。棉質的外層表面是抗菌防水塗層，讓口罩可以清洗重用多達30次。中間一層是PTFE納米纖維薄膜，擁有超卓的過濾效能。而緊貼皮膚的一層，則結合了棉和萊卡，做出舒適而吸濕的效果。這三層物料能共同發揮作用，減少吸入帶有病毒的粒子，也可阻隔咳嗽時噴出的細菌，有效程度超過99%。

接下來，團隊需要為設計進行測試。他們與香港聖公會福利協會有限公司合作，招募了因為疫情而失業的車衣工人。學系的時裝本科生也有機會學以致用，一同參與了新口罩的縫製、測試和營銷工作。截至2020年9月，已有3萬個PU30TM口罩捐贈到本地社區，當中包括學校和老人中心。

口罩不但惠及有需要人士，也讓紡織及服裝學系團隊得以完善設計。葉博士解釋：「我們根據用家回饋不斷改進口罩。」最新版本備有時尚的色彩和數碼印刷圖案，部份更採用了3D立體設計，令口罩更加貼面和更安全。隨著疫情持續，團隊的創新研究毫無疑問可應用於更多個人保護設備，甚至其他用途上。