As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, Cummins Inc. and DuPont help address the shortage of N95 respirator masks.
Cummins’ NanoNet® and NanoForce® Media technology uses DuPont’s Hybrid Membrane Technology (HMT). This technology is typically found in air, fuel, and lube filtration products used in heavy-duty diesel engines to prevent long-term engine wear. It can also be used in N95 respirator masks to filter harmful airborne particles that can spread COVID-19.
Due to the pandemic, the need for N95 masks has skyrocketed in recent weeks. Many mask manufacturers are in need of the materials to assemble the masks and struggle to meet demand.
“Cummins is reevaluating our supply base and manufacturing capabilities to identify how we can support our health care professionals who rely on critical personal protective equipment to do their jobs,” Amy Davis, vice president of Cummins Filtration, says. “Our NanoNet Media can fill a key supply void and help address the mask shortage facing the United States and other countries around the world.”
In March, University of Minnesota teams assembled the first mask prototypes using Cummins’ donated media. The assembly was part of an initiative to provide masks to M Health Fairview and other Minneapolis-based health care systems.
DOING THEIR PART
As COVID-19 spread, the University of Minnesota realized its supply of N95 masks to protect health care workers could run out. Therefore, designers, engineers, chemists, surgeons, anesthesiologist, and apparel experts from the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Engineering in Medicine; Medical School; College of Design; College of Science and Engineering; and Center for Filtration Research Consortium (CFR) came together to address this projected shortage of critical personal protective equipment.
“The first thing we recognized from our experts in the Center for Filtration Research who work directly with Cummins is that not all filtration materials are created equal and that the Cummins material is an excellent alternative,” Jakub Tolar, campus health officer and medical school dean at the University of Minnesota, says.
“We are tremendously grateful for the generous donation from Cummins of their filtration materials toward our mask effort,” Tolar continues. “Since the arrival of the filtration media, we have been able to make rapid progress, and we now believe we have several viable mask options, including both a disposable and re-usable option. These designs show real promise in keeping our health care workers safe should standard medical supplies of N95 masks no longer be available.”
The project also aims to provide open-source instructions that other health care systems can use to create their own masks.
DUPONT’S EFFORT
DuPont’s HMT is typically integrated with Cummins’ synthetic fibers to protect sensitive engine components. Yet, it has multiple applications that can include filtration media used in N95 respirator masks.
Additionally, DuPont’s HMT goes beyond the limits of traditional semi-porous or nonwoven membranes for air and liquid filtration. Made using a proprietary spinning process, continuous sub-micron fibers comprise the hybrid technology materials. The result is a “membrane-like” sheet structure that balances breathability and high filtration efficiency of particulates.
“We are proud to make our advanced technology available to help protect more caregivers on the front lines of this global health crisis,” HP Nanda, global vice president and general manager of DuPont Water Solutions, says. “We thank our partner Cummins for transitioning the use of its production line to help address the global shortage of N95 mask materials, and we thank the experts at the University of Minnesota for their leadership in testing and designing several mask options for the benefit of many health care systems. By working together—and innovating new applications of existing technologies and materials—we hope to slow the spread of this terrible virus.”
CUMMINS’ EFFORT
The N95 designation means the respirator can block at least 95% of particles from entering the wearer’s nose and mouth. Cummins’ NanoNet Media exceeded the performance requirements for N95 designation when tested using an industry standard testing method. Cummins’ manufacturing facilities have since provided media samples to mask manufacturers across the globe to test its effectiveness.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must approve the masks featuring Cummins’ media. In the meantime, the company prepares to do its part to help relieve the burden facing the health care industry.
“We’re working as quickly as possible with health care regulators and other partners to help certify products with our materials and prepare our manufacturing facilities to meet demand,” Davis says.
Mask manufacturers interested in learning more about Cummins’ media technology can visit www.cumminsfiltration.com/respiratormedia
Find out more, visit www.dupont.com and www.cummins.com/always-on.
