4 ms·

Of course they don't - there is no upside to tell people to do so. If it fails, 3M could be sued; if it works, 3M would lose sales. That said, if you don't hav

Of course they don't - there is no upside to tell people to do so. If it fails, 3M could be sued; if it works, 3M would lose sales. That said, if you don't have any other mask, I fail to see how viral material can survive a soak in alcohol for a few minutes and then drying overnight in a warm spot away from flames (alcohol is flammable). But see "Disposable N95 Masks Can Be Decontaminated, Researchers Confirm": https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/health/n95-masks-decontaminated-coronavirus.html https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/16/health/n95-masks-decontam...

bookofjoe 7y ago
"A second marriage is a triumph of hope over experience."—Samuel Johnson. The Times article may represent a scientific example of Johnson's exemplar.
jxramos 7y ago
> We concluded that 75% alcohol solution and chlorine-based solutions were detrimental to the static charge in our meltblown fabric, and resulted in reduced efficiency. https://stanfordmedicine.app.box.com/v/covid19-PPE-1-2 https://stanfordmedicine.app.box.com/v/covid19-PPE-1-2
- mc32 7y ago
  How does ozone fare in eliminating the threat but not degrading the material?
  - rckoepke 7y ago
    I'd assume it would degrade N95 masks. Ozone reacts at least somewhat with both polyethylene and polypropylene at relatively low temperatures and short timelines. This paper shows effects at 95F and 15-90 minute exposures: https://sci-hub.tw/10.1163/156856195X01012 https://sci-hub.tw/10.1163/156856195X01012
ThrowawayR2 7y ago
> "That said, if you don't have any other mask, I fail to see how viral material can survive a soak in alcohol for a few minutes and then drying overnight in a warm spot away from flames (alcohol is flammable)." The linked NYT article points out "Of those methods, they did not recommend ethyl alcohol because although it killed the virus, it degraded the mask material."
innagadadavida 7y ago
Someone had suggested microwaving - it doesn’t destroy static charge.
- pfranz 7y ago
  Wouldn't that be an issue for the metal nose clip?
  - Nuzzerino 7y ago
    From what I understand, metal is only a big problem when the metal is the only thing in the microwave.
DoreenMichele 7y ago
Or maybe they actually know what they are talking about and are just sharing their best information as responsible humans concerned with people doing stupid stuff during a pandemic in the name of saving a few bucks.
User23 7y ago
Is that the one that suggests baking at around 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 30+ minutes? Makes sense because that temperature will denature pathogens' proteins and nucleic acids, but won't damage the mask material.
anotheryou 7y ago
If you have 3: wear them for shopping, go shopping just once a week, rotate the masks and store in dry non-sunny place

bookofjoe 7y ago

"A second marriage is a triumph of hope over experience."—Samuel Johnson. The Times article may represent a scientific example of Johnson's exemplar.

jxramos 7y ago

> We concluded that 75% alcohol solution and chlorine-based solutions were detrimental to the static charge in our meltblown fabric, and resulted in reduced efficiency. https://stanfordmedicine.app.box.com/v/covid19-PPE-1-2 https://stanfordmedicine.app.box.com/v/covid19-PPE-1-2

mc32 7y ago
How does ozone fare in eliminating the threat but not degrading the material?
- rckoepke 7y ago
  I'd assume it would degrade N95 masks. Ozone reacts at least somewhat with both polyethylene and polypropylene at relatively low temperatures and short timelines. This paper shows effects at 95F and 15-90 minute exposures: https://sci-hub.tw/10.1163/156856195X01012 https://sci-hub.tw/10.1163/156856195X01012

ThrowawayR2 7y ago

> "That said, if you don't have any other mask, I fail to see how viral material can survive a soak in alcohol for a few minutes and then drying overnight in a warm spot away from flames (alcohol is flammable)." The linked NYT article points out "Of those methods, they did not recommend ethyl alcohol because although it killed the virus, it degraded the mask material."

innagadadavida 7y ago

Someone had suggested microwaving - it doesn’t destroy static charge.

pfranz 7y ago
Wouldn't that be an issue for the metal nose clip?
- Nuzzerino 7y ago
  From what I understand, metal is only a big problem when the metal is the only thing in the microwave.

DoreenMichele 7y ago

Or maybe they actually know what they are talking about and are just sharing their best information as responsible humans concerned with people doing stupid stuff during a pandemic in the name of saving a few bucks.

User23 7y ago

Is that the one that suggests baking at around 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 30+ minutes? Makes sense because that temperature will denature pathogens' proteins and nucleic acids, but won't damage the mask material.

anotheryou 7y ago

If you have 3: wear them for shopping, go shopping just once a week, rotate the masks and store in dry non-sunny place