BU professor leads research on mask effectiveness Jordan Skube/Design Manager
March 15, 2021
With COVID-19 positivity rates still on the rise, researchers are searching for the most effective mask technique to reduce the spread.
Scott Schiffres, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and his team of researchers conducted a study to test the effectiveness of various mask materials against COVID-19. Their research paper, titled “Filtration Efficiency, Breathability and Reusability of Improvised Materials for Face Masks,” was recently accepted into Aerosol Science and Technology, a peer-reviewed academic journal.
The team of engineering graduate students built a system through which they could test the filtration efficiency, reusability and breathability of varying mask materials in order to find which materials best prevent the spread of the virus. Filtration efficiency is the ability of the mask material to block out COVID-19 particles, while breathability re
Scott Manzo, Intuitive Surgical s managing principal engineer in Connecticut
Scott Manzo, Intuitive Surgical s managing principal engineer in Connecticut ×
As a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Binghamton University’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, he generally focuses with his students in the Nano-Micro Thermal Group on heat transfer, additive manufacturing and related topics.
But when COVID-19 reached U.S. shores last March, Schiffres wondered how to make the most effective mask that would block the coronavirus. He started doing tests with materials he had around his house or could purchase at local hardware stores, using a particle analyzer that he borrowed from Watson College’s cleanroom. To document his findings, he recorded and posted videos to YouTube.