I've been messing with this off and on for a few weeks because I find it interesting. My background was primarily in the high purity piping design for semiconductor, pharmaceutical facilities, along with specialty gas bunker design. I have quite a few years of clean room experience too, including physical fabrication/welding etc., in a clean room. I've read from reliable sources that the coronavirus is approximately 120 nm in diameter. This popular 3M mask that many were hoarding is rated at filtering 300 nm particles and larger with a 95% efficiency. Of course they require a 100% seal on ones face, no beards, clean shaven and fitted properly. I wasn't trying to scare anyone but I just didn't understand their popularity for those that haven't been exposed. However I was concerned for our medical personal that use them, even more so the 3M medical 1860 N95 mask. Naturally the typical surgical mask are just feel good mask if you have nothing better. I also understand the COVID-19 is usually attached to saliva droplets. It's the usually part I was also concerned with. I read a resent study where it might be airborne too, they simply don't know yet. Coming from a clean room background I'm well versed in clean room protocol and particle generation. We've watched numerous graphic examples of that in our training videos for years. I read a study regarding sneezing and coughing and the number of particles that are generated, not to mentioned the speed of those particles. So, since one of my hobbies happens to be microscopy I thought I'd try and photograph a N95 mask structure that I have. I am by no means a scientist nor even a expert in mask design and just a beginner at micro/macro photography but I'm doing my best. This is my first attempt at JUST ONE LAYER of the outer mask. If you looked a my scorpion posting I even tried comparing COVID-19 physical size with its stinger and even compared it to one of my beard hairs tied in a knot
If you click on the links below you'll see a much larger image so you can pan the image.
However, once there you have to click on the image again, let it load, so you see the full non cropped image. There's also a small icon in the upper left corner you can click on for more information on how the image was taken.
https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-wVzqDd/i-f4QzBXw/A
https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-wVzqDd/i-jkbxTjP/A
Below is the outer most exterior layer, nothing more.
-JW:
