In March 2020, Copper3D – a Chilean manufacturer of antibacterial materials for 3D printing, developed a protective mask inspired by the popular N95 model, which can be printed on 3D printers. NANOHACK masks have since enjoyed enormous popularity all over the world – on the one hand due to the characteristic design and on the other due to the protective properties provided by copper nanoparticles contained in the material from which they are 3D printed. In early April 2020, Copper3D NANOHACK 2.0 masks were added to the database of medical 3D printing models by NIH – US National Institute of Health.
In April 2020 CD3D Sp. z o.o. – a leading company from the 3D printing industry in Poland, has signed a contract under which it is an authorized manufacturer of NANOHACK masks by Copper3D. The masks are made of original, anti-bacterial PLACTIVE®️ and MDflex®️ filaments, which are used by many renowned scientific and research institutions in the world, including NASA.
Copper3D and CD3D highlight the following:
Each user of 3D printers of the FDM / FFF type can successfully 3D print a NANOHACK 2.0 mask themselves. Projects are public and can be downloaded from this address. Copper3D and CD3D recommend 3D printing them from PLACTIVE®️ and MDflex®️ antibacterial materials according to the manufacturer’s website guidelines. Only then the mask will have properties that predispose it for use as a protective mask – 3D print of the mask from ordinary thermoplastic materials without any additional filtration makes it only an aesthetic gadget.
The mask cannot be 3D printed and then sold without the knowledge and consent of Copper3D – this is tantamount to breaking the provisions of the open-source license for which it is available. CD3D from the very beginning of the NANOHACK project is its official partner and has full Copper3D authorization for the production of masks and their possible commercialization. NANOHACK masks are produced and delivered to selected institutions and public utilities for free, they can also be sold to companies and individuals.
The lead time depends on the current workload of our machine park. We do not produce masks for the warehouse – we make them only on individual customer order, specifying the color, size (can be adjusted) and additional accessories (rubber bands, copper mesh filters, non-woven filters).
To receive the price offer and precise delivery time, please contact us:
The masks are only available in three colors: green, red and blue. These are the only colors in which Copper3D’s antibacterial PLACTIVE®️ material appears. NANOHACK 2.0 masks found in other colors do not have antibacterial properties, because they cannot be 3D printed from the correct material.
Our NANOHACK 2.0 masks are created on Zortrax Inventure 3D printers equipped with a closed working chamber separated from the printing system. In addition, they have a built-in HEPA filter. Thanks to this, masks are manufactured in a stable and controlled environment. However, they still need to be washed and disinfected before the first (and each subsequent) use.
Washing: the NANOHACK 2.0 mask should be washed with soap and clean water. The water temperature should not exceed 60°C, as this may deform the mask. The mask cannot be washed in a dishwasher or immersed in boiling water as this will lead to permanent deformation and destruction.
Rinsing: the NANOHACK 2.0 mask should be completely rinsed with clean water.
Disinfection: the NANOHACK 2.0 mask should be disinfected to deactivate other pathogens. As with mask cleaning, the use of chemical disinfection must not exceed 60°C.
Drying: the NANOHACK 2.0 mask must not be dried with a hair dryer using warm air, as this may lead to deformation.
Storage: NANOHACK 2.0 mask can be stored in home / office conditions in a dry place, protected from dust and dust.
Method 1: Alcohol is effective against influenza virus. Ethyl alcohol (70%) has a broad spectrum of activity as a bactericide and is generally considered better than isopropyl alcohol. Because alcohol is flammable, limit its use as a disinfectant to small areas and use it only in well ventilated rooms. Prolonged and repeated use of alcohol as a disinfectant can also cause discoloration, swelling, hardening and cracking of some plastics.
Method 2: Most household bleach solutions contain 5% sodium hypochlorite (50,000 parts per million available chlorine). Recommended dilution: it is usually recommended to dilute 1: 100 with 5% sodium hypochlorite:
The NANOHACK 2.0 mask is not a medical product or a personal protection product. Like popular face protective shields, it provides additional and partial protection against harmful particles in the air and prevents the spread of liquid that pollutes the respiratory tract. Regardless of the mask elements printed on the 3D printer from Copper3D PLACTIVE®️ materials, an additional filter should be used (e.g. polypropylene nonwoven – the same material as used in surgical masks).
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the design of surgical masks does not provide full protection against germs and other contaminants due to their loose fit. In addition, surgical masks are disposable devices that should be disposed of safely. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends placing these types of items in a plastic bag and placing them in a basket, and then washing your hands after removing the used mask. Previously published studies have shown that high viral load remaining in surgical masks and respirators can be a source of transmission of the virus to both the person wearing the mask or using the respirator and to others. This can happen when healthcare professionals touch the mask and then do not wash their hands properly or discard the mask without taking appropriate precautions. In addition, pathogens discharged from surgical ventilators onto patients in the operating room increase the risk of nosocomial infections. The NANOHACK 2.0 mask uses a biocompatible polymer containing copper nanocomposite, which has antimicrobial properties.
Copper and copper nanoparticles inhibit the replication and multiplication capacity of SARS-CoV4, influenza5 and other respiratory viruses with high antimicrobial potential (antiviral and antibacterial). Copper can inactivate viruses as SARS-like and SARS-Cov4, influenza virus 5, H1N1 and eliminate dangerous bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria and others. Copper3D’s 3D PLACTIVE® and Mdflex® printing materials can be an effective and inexpensive solution to help reduce the transmission of selected infectious diseases.
Sources:
