Air Permeability of Four Different Face Masks : Medical, Non-Medical, Cloth, And KN95

This project explores the breathability of different mask types by analysing pressure decrease curves. Data is obtained using an 18L water jug with the mask covering a minuscule hole such that it is the only place air can escape through. Pressure in the container is increased with a pump while keeping all openings sealed. Then the mask-covered opening is released to let air escape while Phyphox accesses the phone’s barometer to collect pressure data. The more air flow resistant a mask is, the less air permeable it is. For quantitative interpretation, Bernoulli's principle and the conservation of mass are used to create a mathematical simulation that mimics how pressure in the container changes without a mask. A x2 test and comparison of effective hole sizes are used to make conclusions about which masks are most air permeable. Results show that air permeability of the masks is as follows in increasing order: KN95, medical, cloth, and non-medical. The conclusions from our experiment agree with previous studies of the same subject and can be explained by various design elements of the masks including filters, number of layers, material, and fibre patterns.Science, Faculty ofUnreviewedUndergraduat