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Filter masks are disposable devices intended to be worn in order to reduce exposure to potentially harmful foreign agents of 0.1–10.0 microns. However, to perform their function correctly, these devices should be replaced after a few hours of use. Because of this, billions of non-biodegradable face masks are globally discarded every month (3 million/minute). The frequent renewal of masks, together with the strong environmental impact of non-biodegradable plastic-based mask materials, highlights the need to find a solution to this emerging ecological problem. One way to reduce the environmental impact of masks, decrease their turnover, and, at the same time, increase their safety level is to make them able to inhibit pathogen proliferation and vitality by adding antibacterial materials such as silver, copper, zinc, and graphene. Among these, silver and copper are the most widely used. In this study, with the aim of improving commercial devices’ efficacy and eco-sustainability, Ag-based and Cu-based antibacterial treatments were performed and characterized from morphological, compositional, chemical–physical, and microbiological points of view over time and compared with the antibacterial treatments of selected commercial products. The results demonstrated the good distribution of silver and copper particles onto the surface of the masks, along with almost 100% antibacterial capabilities of the coatings against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which were still confirmed even after several washing cycles, thus indicating the good potential of the developed prototypes for mask application.

Pour endiguer la récente pandémie de Covid-19, la France a pris des mesures pour mettre rapidement à la disposition de la population des masques de protection respiratoire efficaces. Les laboratoires en capacité de réaliser des mesures d'efficacité et de perméabilité de matériaux filtrants ont été sollicités pour mettre en ?uvre des bancs d'essais permettant de caractériser les media filtrants utilisés pour la confection des masques dits « barrière » ou « grand public » en termes d'efficacité de filtration et de perméabilité selon les spécifications établies par l'AFNOR (efficacité de filtration vis-à-vis d'aérosols de 3 µm supérieure à 70% et 90% pour deux catégories de masques, et perméabilité à 100 Pa supérieure à 96 L.m-2.s-1). Face à l'urgence, ces différents laboratoires ont mis en ?uvre des protocoles différents pour caractériser ces dispositifs. La présente communication vise à comparer les résultats obtenus par trois laboratoires impliqués dans ces essais en utilisant des protocoles différents. Les résultats montrent un bon accord entre les trois laboratoires impliqués dans l'intercomparaison avec des dispersions probablement imputables à l'hétérogénéité des échantillons., In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, France has taken measures to quickly produce respiratory protection masks for the population. Laboratories able to carry out filtration media efficiency and permeability measurements were asked to implement test benches to characterize the filter media used for making these so-called ?community face covering? in terms of filtration efficiency and permeability according to the AFNOR specifications (3 µm filtration efficiency greater than or equal to 70% and 90% for two categories, and permeability at 100 Pa greater than 96 L.m-2.s-1). In this context of emergency, these laboratories implemented different protocols and this communication aims at comparing the results obtained by the three laboratories involved in these tests. The results show good agreement between laboratories participating in the intercomparison with a dispersion probably due to the sample heterogeneity.