Nano
technology
The unique SPURTEX® nanostructured material is developed and manufactured by SPUR a.s., a leading Czech expert in nanotechnology. The SPURTEX® nanofibre filter membrane forms a mechanical barrier with exceptional filtration capabilities. It prevents the penetration of harmful particles, which makes it particularly suitable for healthcare use. SPURTEX®, when used in masks or respirators, is extremely effective in protecting the wearer as well as others, as it has much smaller pores than the size of undesirable particles like smog, bacteria, aerosols, and even viruses.
Efficiency
95–99%
*depending on the filter class of the materials used
What is a nanomaterial?
Nanofibre materials are textile products with a fibre diameter of less than 1 micrometre (µm) = 1000 nanometres (nm). One nanometre is 10-9 metres. It cannot be seen without an optical aid. By comparison, human hair is about 75,000 nanometres in diameter. Nanofibre has a thousand times larger surface area than, for example, microfibre. Nanofibre materials are characterized by high porosity. To improve the mechanical properties of the fibres, they are applied to a base material, usually polypropylene, which is created using the spunbond technology, or in the case of SPURTEX® VS also to natural viscose.
pollen graindiameter 30 µm
nanofibre filterpore size less than 100 nm
human hairthickness 80 µm
MAXIMUM PROTECTION AND COMFORT
SPURTEX® VS is a laminate consisting of three layers. Its surface is made of a viscose-based material, which protects the middle filter layer made of nanofibre. Viscose is a biodegradable material, so it is more environmentally friendly than conventional polymeric materials. Non-woven viscose fabric is distinguished by its weight of 60–90 g/m-2. It is very pleasant to the touch and completely biocompatible with human skin. A nanomembrane made of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) fibre provides maximum user protection. PVDF fibre processing is one of the leading technologies for polymer solution spinning in an electrostatic field and industrial preparation of nanofibres.
TECHNICAL MATERIAL WITH EXCELLENT PROPERTIES
SPURTEX® PP is a unique five-layer filter membrane made of polypropylene non-woven fabrics and a specially developed active filter layer made of PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) polymer nanofibres. The polymer nanofibre filter layer is secured between the outer layers, which ensures adequate mechanical properties of the final product and eliminates damage to the ultrafine polymer nanofibres during handling and use. According to expert opinions, the outer layers, which are based on polypropylene (non-woven fabric), do not contain any significant skin irritants and can be used safely on the skin. The SPURTEX® PP filter material fully complies with the requirements of EN149:2001+A1:2009 (or equivalent USA NIOSH-42CFR84) for filtering half masks to protect against particles.
Breathing comfort
Tests performed with an infrared thermal camera have shown that a nanofilter provides excellent breathing comfort and good thermal behaviour compared to a meltblown filter. This is achieved by the nanofilter’s uniform morphology with very small pore diameters of 50–100 nm, which are larger than air particles (~4 nm) including CO2, but smaller than foreign substances including bacteria and viruses (for example, the size of coronavirus is between 80 and 150 nm). In contrast, a meltblown filter does not have a uniform morphology and therefore the dispersion of values is larger, which may result in thermal discomfort and barriers in the permeability of CO2 and other substances.
NANO – technology of the 21st century
Industrial respirators capture the smallest pollution particles on non-woven fabric electrostatically. However, the electrostatic charge is affected by moisture, so the efficiency is reduced not only by breathing, but also by long storage. Within two years, industrial respirators stop meeting the efficiency requirements of Czech and European standards. Nanofibre respirators do not have this problem. They still capture viruses and bacteria even after five years of storage.
If you compare the options of gradually purchasing several industrial respirators for storage every two years and purchasing one nanofibre respirator for storage for five years, the nanofibre option is more cost-efficient.
SPURTEX® PRODUCTS
SPURTEX® V100 FFP2 NR NANO RESPIRATOR
| FFP2 respirator with a nano layer
| excellent filtration of ultrafine virus-sized particles of 30–150 nm
| high air permeability
| adjustable nose wire
| full certification according to EN 149:2001+A1:2009
SPURTEX® PP STANDARD NANO MASK
| surgical mask + nano layer
| mechanical filtration using nanofibres
| filtration efficiency at the FFP2 level
| high air permeability
| elastic rubber bands
| adjustable nose wire
SPURTEX® VS PREMIUM NANO MASK
| nano layer applied to viscose (bio-based product)
| viscose is made of renewable materials
| mechanical filtration using nanofibres
| filtration efficiency at the FFP2 level
| high air permeability
| hand-sewn
| adjustable nose wire
| fits well on the face and maintains its shape
| elastic rubber bands
SPURTEX® VS PREMIUM JUNIOR NANO MASK
| JUNIOR - For children aged 6-15 years
| BABY - For children from 2 years,
| nano layer applied to viscose (bio-based product)
| viscose is made of renewable materials
| mechanical filtration using nanofibres
| filtration efficiency at the FFP2 level
| high air permeability
| hand-sewn
| adjustable nose wire
| fits well on the face and maintains its shape
| elastic rubber bands
SPURTEX® Disinfection
SPURTEX® disinfection is a virucidal disinfection liquid agent ideal for single and multiple disinfection of SPURTEX® nanofiber masks and respirators. It effectively and immediately deactivates viruses and bacteria after each use. Produced by Tomas Bata University in Zlín (Unisanol recipe - reg. No. MZDR 17099/2020/OBP).