Side-leakage of facemask

TL;DR

This paper models the side-leakage phenomenon in facemasks, highlighting how high airflow resistance can cause particles to bypass the filter through leaks at the mask-skin interface.

Contribution

It introduces a new model to analyze and predict side-leakage in facemasks, addressing a gap in understanding leakage mechanisms.

Findings

Leakage increases with higher airflow resistance.

Model predicts leakage points at the mask-skin interface.

Implications for mask design to reduce leakage.

Abstract

Face masks are used to trap particles (or fluid drops) in a porous material (filter) in order to avoid or reduce the transfer of particles between the human lungs (or mouth and nose) and the external environment. The air exchange between the lungs and the environment is assumed to occur through the facemask filter. However, if the resistance to air flow through the filter is high some air (and accompanied particles) will leak through the filter-skin interface. In this paper I will present a model study of the side-leakage problem.