JMC Faculty Help During Pandemic

J M C F a c u l t y H e l p D u r i n g P a n d e m i c

Dr. Meredith McQuerry, Assistant Professor of Retail Entrepreneurship, has been studying the performance of novel woven and nonwoven face coverings for general citizen and medical end uses that incorporate antibacterial and antifungal fabrics for COVID-19 and other illness prevention. Acteev Protect™ yarns and fabrics, developed by Ascend Performance Materials, incorporate the first-of-its-kind silver-free antimicrobial technology that lasts the life of the product as opposed to most topical finishes such as coatings. The material is also odor resistant and washable, meeting the CDC’s requirements for cloth face coverings.

As with all personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance is essential for it to be effective and with one of the top complaints of face coverings being poor wearer comfort, there exists a need to better understand and develop materials for face masks that both protect and enhance comfort. McQuerry’s research team began work this summer to assess the thermal comfort of commercially available woven and nonwoven face masks alongside masks made with Acteev Protect™. A human subjects wear study was conducted with local Tallahassee Fire Department participants who performed a treadmill exercise protocol simulating medical tasks and common general consumer use activities. Each participant rated their overall facial comfort, temperature sensation, and breathability when wearing all masks in the study.

Halfway into the project, results thus far demonstrate the Acteev Protect™ masks provide as much, if not more comfort, than typical face masks found on the market today. Perceived facial comfort was maintained longer and at a more favorable rating for the duration of the 50 minute protocol compared to the traditional nonwoven fabric mask. Overall, the Acteev Protect™ mask enhances protection against COVID-19 and other illnesses while providing greater levels of comfort and breathability for longer periods of time.