Can this face-mask kill COVID-19 with electricity and help us to fight this pandemic?
This
is the vision of future that two Japanese firms hoping to make reality with
e-textile that can reportedly inactivate microorganisms on the spot. The technology
is based on the world’s first piezoelectric fabric which is jointly manufactured
and developed by Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. & Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd.
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| Corona Virus |
It
is called PIECLEX and it uses Kinetic Energy to generate electricity that helps
to zap bacteria and viruses. The two Japanese firms introduce PIECLEX for
everything from odor to protective mask.
According to firms, it has been
effective on 99.9% of viruses and bacteria that they have tested, further research
is going on to curb their proliferation or inactivate them. The firms have
lofty goals of engineering textile for use in COVID-19 prevention, but that
will take some time to accomplish. After all, chemical and biological
protective coatings like PIECLEX are notoriously difficult to engineer – this is
not due to lack in technology, but for lack of access to viruses or bacteria in
question. According to a research in 2001 in Reactive Coatings Literature
Review, antimicrobial textile studies widely rely on surrogates to test
their effectiveness.
Bacillus
Globigii – a species of black pigmented bacteria is used as analogue for
mustard gas; for example. In effect, it becomes much more arduous to ensure the
coating will actually stand up against actual chemical and biological that
scientists have set out to protect against. Still technologies like Silver-Clear
have made it to market. The molecules in the coating contain two types of
silver ions that works together to tear away at bacteria wall, destroying it
genetic material.
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| COVID - 19 |
What is PIECLEX?
It
is world’s first piezoelectric fabric which is jointly manufactured and developed
by Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. & Teijin Frontier Co. Ltd. PIECLEX fabric realizes
antimicrobial performance by converting motion such as human movement in
electricity through piezoelectric effect. PIECLEX also contributes to protect
global environment as it uses plant derived polylactic acid (PLA) as its raw
material and doesn’t apply chemical agents and solvents.
PIECLEX
generates electricity by expansion and contraction by human motions or other
motions. This enables antimicrobial and deodorant (antibacterial function which
prevents odor generated by bacteria that decomposes sweat and sebum) functions without
using chemical agents. PIECLEX is also a carbon neutral and earth friendly.
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| Use Face-mask |
What is piezoelectric effect is used in PIECLEX?
Piezoelectric
effect is the effect of mechanical strain and electric fields on a material
(like quartz crystal); mechanical strain on piezoelectric material will produce
polarity in the material, and applying an electric field to a piezoelectric material
will create strain within the material. When the pressure is applied to a piezoelectric
material a dipole and net polarization are produced in the direction of applied
stress. When the crystal is connected to the voltage sources the change in
dimensions of the crystal will lead to voltage production which will generate
current/electricity. Also if reverse happens i.e. when the voltage lead to
change the dimension of crystal the process is called inverse piezoelectric
effect. Piezoelectricity has many applications with regards to electrical
transducers and signal devices. The same technology is used in making PIECLEX
fabric. Here expansion and contraction by human motions will play the role of
mechanical strain as stated above.
For now :
1. Wear Face-mask
 |
| Wear Face-mask |
2. Stay Home Stay Safe
 |
| Stay Home Stay Safe |
3. Wash your hand frequently
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| Wash Your Hands Frequently |
4. Maintain Social Distancing
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| Social Distancing to be followed |
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