Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jul 13: Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Suratkal, have developed silver nano-coated face shields for those involved in the fight against coronavirus infection. These masks can be reused after washing with soap water.
These face shields not only provide protection from COVID-19, but also from other infectious diseases. These shields made of thin plastic sheets of 100 microns are easy to wear. The masks cover the entire portion of the skull from the forehead to neck and provide 180 Degree protection. When people with COVID-19 infection sneeze or cough, the droplets from the lung, throat and nose float in the air, but these face shields provide absolute protection from them. These plastic sheets are fixed to Styrofoam strips, which are very light. When the Styrofoam strip is worn over the forehead, silver nano-coating provides protection from bacteria and other things from getting in. The silver nano-coating destroys bacteria and other forms of fungi.
According to Dr Arun M Isloor, who is professor at department of chemistry NITK and designated partner of this start-up company, this is the first such reported commercial product, where silver nanoparticles are coated on the bands of face shield to give antimicrobial property. This modified face shields also provided with a strip of spongy layer to give cushioning effect thereby highly comfortable even after wearing for 3 to 4 hours. These shields can be reused just by wiping both surfaces with soap solution using a cotton swab.
According to Dr Isloor, his intention of commercializing this product is not for profit making, but to fulfill the demands of public at an affordable price. “Moreover I want to show our students and youngsters that, entrepreneurship is possible under any circumstances and India too can produce any products at an affordable price under Make in India and can be AATHMANIRBAR,” adds Dr Isloor. A part of the share will be given to NITK as royalty, a part of fund will be donated to the Indian army fund and a part to the manpower who were involved in its manufacturing. “I hope, it will inspire giant and more companies to donate funds to our army fund,” he says. This start-up was started by faculty of NITK as per central government's start up policy. Its main objective is water purification by innovative technologies. As a service to the society and to fight against Covid-19, it is producing face shields.
These face shields are made of 100 micron tick transparent polyester sheet, which covers about 180 degrees of frontal portion of the head, covering mouth, eyes and nose, thereby gives protection against any splashes, saliva by any infected person. The band is made of Styrofoam, a lightweight material which gives comfort feeling, unlike that of elastic.
He already received orders from Kerala, Ballari, Bengaluru and other places. These shields are highly useful to dentists, health care workers, bank officials, hospitals, airports etc.
Such masks currently available in the market have plastic bands. But the ones made by NITK have Velcro bands which make them easy to wear for the people with different shapes and sizes of heads.
These face shields have been developed by the Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park's start-up centre of NITK. NITK lecturer and researcher Dr Arun Islur-led team has made these shields. So far, 500 face shields have been made.