Palas develops protective mask testing device

With the rapid spread of the new coronavirus, the demand for respiratory masks is growing massively. However, these masks only provide protection if their filtering performance is reliable. This is tested by the PMFT 1000 respirator test rig from Palas.

The special advantage of the PMFT 1000 from Palas is the exact representation of the separation per particle size class. "Particularly with regard to the effectiveness of the respiratory masks for the corona virus, which is only 120 to 160 nanometers in size, such an exact measurement of the particle size distribution is essential", says Dr. Maximilian Weiß, CEO of Palas GmbH. According to his statement, test rigs of other manufacturers often measure just the efficiency values at a predefined particle size of e.g. 200 nm and thus cannot check the effectiveness of the masks against this virus.

The PFMT 1000 is produced at the headquarters of Palas GmbH in Karlsruhe customer-specifically for each customer with an individual adapter for the exact adjustment of the breathing mask.

"Despite this very complex customer-specific production method, we ensure the short-term availability of the test benches by prefabrication of the components and flexible production processes, because our customers need these test benches as soon as possible", emphasizes Markus Herrmann, production manager of Palas GmbH.

Details of the device:

• Test rig working principle better than GB 2626, EN 143
• Testing of fractional efficiency, e.g. efficiency in whole size range of 120 nm up to 40 µm
• Exact analysis of filter and filter mask efficiency for Corona Virus (size approx. 120 nm up to 160 nm) in the size range between 120 and 180 nm we have 8 size channels
• Future proof: Works with any kind of aerosol without adjustments Further measurement of differential pressure, e.g. as well within different face velocities
• Face velocity adjustable between 1.5 - 50 cm/s
• Individual face mask adapter for your product