Developed by the US Department of Defense, the MIL-M-36954C standard describes the requirements for single-use light surgical masks suitable for use by medical personnel in operating rooms and other areas where protective aseptic processes are required. The full name of this US military standard is as follows: MIL-M-36954C Military specifications - Mask, surgical, disposable.
The differential pressure test is a test method that measures how easily air passes from one side of the mask to the other. The test result shows how easily the wearer can breathe through the mask and is expressed with Delta P. The higher the differential pressure, the more difficult it is to push the air. This situation causes an escape effect, ie air leakage and the risk of contamination from the sides of an unsuitable work mask, even misuse by the user. The high Delta P value allows better filtration, but the mask is not very comfortable to use.
In advanced laboratories, air permeability test devices produced with the latest technology are used. Laboratory tests are important for today's Covid-19 outbreak and protective medical mask tests. These testers are used for face mask air flow resistance and differential pressure testing to check breathability. At the same time, textile materials are used to control the differential pressure of the gas exchanger. During the test, the output of the air flow is adjusted with a gas flow meter. The air flow passes through a certain area of the test sample and the pressure difference is calculated by detecting the current pressure by a pressure sensor.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines surgical masks as loose and disposable masks. These masks should create a physical barrier between the mouth, nose and intended use. The FDA requires these masks by the manufacturers to perform in the following areas: fluid resistance, differential pressure, particle efficiency, bacterial filtration efficiency, flammability and biocompatibility. As can be seen, differential pressure is an important performance indicator.
Briefly, with the pressure difference (Delta P) test, the pressure drop in the surgical face mask material is determined. Delta P refers to the resistance of the mask material to the air flowing through the mask. The pressure drop is related to the breathability and comfort of the face mask. A lower Delta P means higher breathability.
Differential pressure air permeability within the framework of MIL-M-36954C standard, to healthcare organizations and manufacturers who demand, within the framework of national and international standards, with a trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among numerous tests, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies, Provides breathing resistance, Delta P testing services.
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