Offanegeno, Italy – Coim has supplied thermoplastic polyurethane to Italian company for use in making the Produmask, a washable, reusable facemask.
TPU plays key role in coronavirus face masks
The masks use TPU for skin-contact parts
Produform moulds technical components for the automotive, aeronautic and electronic sectors. Fabio Aires, the company's owner, designed the masks 24 hours after the Italian government announced its coronavirus lockdown decree.
Aires thought that TPU could be a good material for making the masks, and approached Coim for assistance. Its Laripur materials are supplied as granules, and these are moulded to form the sealing part of the mask.
Laripur was chosen, Coim said, because it is hypoallergenic and offers users a soft feel. This means that the masks are comfortable, with high mechanical performance. The material also has good chemical resistance, which makes it possible to be washed repeatedly.
The masks are UN EN 14683 and ISO 10993 compliant, and feature a filter with a 15-hour life. The filters are designed to have a high air airflow. and cannot be tampered with by the user.
