Health authorities around the world claim that masks are for one-time use and that users have to throw the used ones away and don a fresh one. But the supply of surgical and N95 masks is limited – and the cost is high. Few people replace their masks with new ones daily.

Now, Prof. Yair Ein-Eli, dean of the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa has developed a reusable face mask that can be heated in a controlled manner – a process which destroys viruses that accumulated on the mask and renders it reusable. 

The new technology is based on an inner layer of carbon fibers spread within the mask in a homogeneous manner. When the layer of fibers is heated using a low current (2 amps) from a readily-available source – such as a mobile phone charger, USB connection or other mobile electronic device chargers – the viruses are destroyed. A patent application for this invention has been submitted in the US.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, demand for protective face masks has skyrocketed in recent months, as wearing masks is now a requirement along with social distancing and hygiene measures. A wide range of masks is available, with the leading model being the N95. The authorities insist on correct usage of masks, which means replacing it daily even if it kept clean and dry during the day.

These regulations, along with the urgent need to provide masks for the medical staff caring for coronavirus patients, has led to a surge in demand for these masks and a search for manufacturers and suppliers. In the US, for example, approximately 3.5 billion masks are required in order to protect against an acute epidemic – 100 times more than the number of masks readily available. An immediate shortage of masks also occurred in Israel and was accelerated when the Health Ministry announced that mask-wearing is mandatory. 

Ein-Eli’s research group created the mask prototype and tested it together with Prof. Debbie Lindell and Prof. Oded Beja from the Faculty of Biology. A patent was submitted in the US, and the research group is currently discussing commercialization with industrial companies.