Ahmedabad Textile Body in Collaboration With DRDO Develops High Quality Cloth to Make ‘N-99’ Masks

The Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA) in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation has produced a top quality fabric to make masks of 99 per cent filter effectivity, the best amongst all type of masks out there within the nation.

ATIRA is creating the fabric materials for preparation of 5 lakh ‘N-99 masks’, which it says can be higher in high quality than the N-95 masks which were in large demand of late within the battle towards coronavirus.

While the N-95 respirator is ready to filter 95 per cent of the very small airborne particles, the effectivity of the N-99 masks to filter such particles will probably be 99 per cent.

The Ahmedabad-based textile analysis affiliation claims it’s the solely facility within the nation to supply filter fabric for N-99 masks.

“Ninty 9 per cent filtration is the best amongst all sorts of masks out there in India. There had been many challenges initially, however with the untiring efforts of our extremely competent scientists and analysis technicians, we had been in a position to efficiently develop this fabric and produce it on giant scale, ATIRA director Pragnesh Shah mentioned.

The N-99 masks has 5 layers out of which two are of nano mesh that are inside and three outer layers are of fabric, he mentioned.

“Currently, the filter fabric is manufactured at a state-of-the-art facility of ATIRA as per the WHO pointers. The Government of India and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have recognised the effectivity of those masks, Shah mentioned.

The prime quality fabric for over 3.5 lakh masks has already been handed over to DRDO, whereas manufacturing of extra such materials is happening, mentioned ATIRA deputy director Deepali Palawat, who’s heading the venture.

“This venture is the best instance of collaboration and coordination with the federal government. It was troublesome to acquire uncooked supplies throughout the lockdown. The authorities has moved mountains to assist us procure the uncooked supplies and offered full help throughout the lockdown,” she mentioned.

Palawat mentioned it was troublesome to transform the analysis centre right into a manufacturing unit however a 15-member ATIRA workers, together with scientific officers and technicians, are working round the clock to fulfil DRDO’s order of 5 lakh masks.

“The DRDO is getting these masks prepared for well being ministry officers, docs of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and high defence cadre, she mentioned.

“We are completely satisfied that we’re in a position to assist the Indian authorities and folks throughout such unprecedented instances. Our partnership with DRDO has yielded one thing noteworthy for the nation,” ATIRA council member Punit Lalbhai mentioned.

ATIRA is a famend physique arrange right here in 1947 by textile mills as an autonomous non-profit R&D establishment.

Its actions cowl numerous elements, from fibre to completed materials in conventional textiles in addition to technical textiles within the area of geo-textiles, nano net expertise and composites, as per the affiliation’s web site.