KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — February 1, 2021 — Volvo Car Malaysia had collaborated with NanoTextile Sdn Bhd (NANOTEXTILE) producing the anti-microbial reusable face mask in pursuing sustainability. Nalin Jain, managing director of Volvo Car Malaysia had expressed to embark the project in helping the environment as many surgical masks are being disposed every day that led to environmental pollution. As well, this project was also initiated to help single mothers while engaging with trained vocational graduates from GIATMARA and local artisans to help them earn a sustainable living during the pandemic.
A study was conducted upon designing the face masks, showing that people had a few concerns when wearing a surgical face mask; 1. Cost 2. Waste 3. Allergic reaction 4. Sizing. Hence, this reusable facemask is made to address these problems. They are made up of 100-percent cotton, soft and washable, enhanced with anti-bacterial, water-repellent, and self-cleaning features on the inside and outside layer, that allows for bacterial and viral protection up to 100 gentle washes.
NANOTEXTILE’s award winning technology has anti-bacterial efficacy that is laboratory tested with the achievement of more than 99.9 percent. It has resulted in the destruction of possible infection of the fabric by viruses and bacteria and simultaneously decreases the penetration of contaminated droplets in contact. Whilst the mask added five more layers of protection using PM 2.5 filter, which is tested to be 90-percent effective in viral particle filtration. Thus, it will keep the wearer protected and comfortable even though the mask is worn for a long time.
Undeniably, nanotechnology still faces some challenges in the textile industry. However, as Nalin strongly believes in the nano-enabled technology, “with more R&D put into it, nanotechnology will be the answer to sustainable textiles.” NANOTEXTILE aims to promote the technical textile continuously with its broad potential of nanotechnologies. The truth is that there is a wide area of nanotechnology invention that is ready for exploitation and market entry such as the demand in the sustainable effort.