SEOUL South Korean scientists have developed a face mask filter that retains its protective properties even after being washed over 20 times, a research university said. The development by a team led by Kim Il-doo at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) comes as the country struggles with a supply shortage of protective masks amid worries over the spread of the new coronavirus. The new filter, which can be placed inside regular cotton masks, is made of a nanofabric that is specially aligned for maximum protective qualities even after prolonged use. Existing disposable masks lose their ability to filter out particles with time, especially if they come into contact with moisture and if they are washed. Even after the mask is washed dozens of times with soap or submerged in an ethanol solution for three hours, its protective properties are retained.
