Ascend Efficiency Supplies has made their new masks expertise obtainable to the general public for buy.
In July, NorthEscambia.com first reported that Ascend developed a brand new masks expertise that shield towards SARS-CoV-2, the reason for COVID-19, and the fabric to make it’s manufactured on the firm’s North Escambia facility on Previous Chemstrand Street.
The Acteev Shield Nonwoven Masks is a reusable basic function masks that options highly effective built-in antimicrobial expertise to guard the masks from odor-causing micro organism and mildew fungi in a smooth, breathable, snug material that’s mild on the pores and skin.
It’s now obtainable for preorder at acteev.com.
The masks is the primary in a sequence of deliberate Acteev product introductions that can embody a knit material masks and a sports activities gaiter. The corporate additionally introduced it’s designing an N95 respirator and a line of surgical masks and is creating extra engineering plastics options for high-touch surfaces akin to gentle switches and tray tables; textiles to be used in scrubs and hospital robes; and nonwoven fibers and rolled items to be used in functions akin to filtration programs.
The enlargement into masks is a pure extension for Ascend, which is the biggest producer of nylon 6,6 resin on the earth, stated Lu Zhang, Ph.D., who joined Ascend earlier this 12 months as vp and chief of the Acteev enterprise. “The nylon Ascend makes is sturdy sufficient for use underneath the hood of a automobile, however when it’s spun into fibers, it may be woven or knitted into materials which can be smooth and silky,” she stated. “Mixed with our antimicrobial Acteev expertise, our material makes an Acteev Shield Nonwoven Masks extra breathable, extra snug and extra wearable than anything we’ve encountered available in the market.”
The Acteev Shield Nonwoven Masks is a perfect alternative for anybody searching for higher safety, consolation and breathability than a typical blue masks and higher availability than an N95 respirator, that are reserved for well being care staff, Zhang stated.
“Masks solely inhibit the unfold in the event that they’re worn – that’s why consolation and breathability are so vital,” Zhang stated. “As we ship our children again to highschool, return to the office, resume buying and in any other case get again to regular life, we want an possibility that’s long-lasting and wearable for hours.
“They’re nice for academics, restaurant workers, transportation staff, industrial personnel and anybody whose life-style takes them out of their properties and into the world,” Zhang stated.
Current testing on the knit material accomplished on the College of Cambridge has demonstrated that Acteev expertise deactivates the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, with 99.9% efficacy on contact1. Ascend is working with the U.S. Environmental Safety Company, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration and different governmental companies to acquire the suitable regulatory clearances to make particular claims relating to the expertise’s antiviral properties.
Acteev Shield Nonwoven Masks are made with Acteev™ expertise with lively zinc ions in a polymer matrix to destroy microbes.
“Acteev’s lively layer of protection makes use of protected, environmentally pleasant lively zinc ions embedded into the matrix of the polymer – not a chemical spray that can wash away or flake off – which means these masks can be utilized repeatedly,” stated Phil McDivitt, CEO of Ascend.
The Acteev Shield Nonwoven Masks are constructed with three layers of zinc-embedded supplies.
“Our scientists and engineers invented a course of for making a revolutionary new material that checks all of the bins,” McDivitt stated. “Acteev™ material is smooth to the contact and moisture-wicking to maintain the face cool, and it’s extra breathable than different supplies utilized in masks.”
