SINTX Technologies, which makes ceramics for medical and non-medical applications, has developed a method of embedding silicon nitride particles into nonwoven and woven fabric fibers.
According to the company the material could be used to make a mask that could inactivate respiratory viruses such as Covid-19. Exposure to silicon nitride has been shown to neutralize several bacterial species and viral strains, SINTX says.
‘The scanning electron image [right] shows silicon nitride particles preferentially bonded to polypropylene fibers, at the micron level, without stray particles,’ said Dr Bal, president and CEO of SINTX. ‘Fabrics containing silicon nitride from this process will be tested for their antiviral effect. Previous scientific data have shown that silicon nitride strongly inactivates SAR-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic.’
This story uses material from SINTX, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
