50-Count 3-Ply Disposable Face Masks Expired

I bought these masks from the same seller last week. It used to be ~$11 but now it's $9.98.

There's a certificate that comes with these masks for those that are interested.

https://i.imgur.com/DW6gQWw.jpg

The standard is GB / T32610-2016
60% nonwoven
30% melt blown
5% nylon rope
5% plastic strip

I have cut the mask in half and there's 3 layers. I did a leak test by putting water in the mask and waited 5 minutes. There were no leaks and I didn't want to wait longer. I used a lighter and the fabric melted like it was supposed to.

I put some corn starch in an empty water bottle, put the mask in the opening, and screwed on a cap with a hole in it. I squeezed the bottle as hard as I could to force air out and did not see any corn starch pass through the mask.

If anyone has better equipment for testing, please share your results. If you have any questions I'll try to answer them.

Someone ordered this last time mentioned there is a QC slip inside box that mentions 32610. No note of grade iirc.

So most likely this meet China standard GB-T32610-2016. Since didn't mention grade, most likely Grade D which is the lowest(?)

Some information about this GB/T 32610-2016 standard. For that standard, it has Grade A to Grade D.

https://www.satatonmall.com/artic...ctive.html

GB/T 32610 has four different levels: D, C, B and A. These levels are for different AQI(air quality index). Level A mask is for the condition that PM2.5 is below 500μg/m3, Level B mask is for the condition that PM2.5 is below 350μg/m3, Level C mask is for PM2.5 below 250μg/m3 and Level D mask is for PM2.5 below 150μg/m3 condition.

For the applications, GB/T 32610 masks are used to protect us from the air pollution like PM 2.5 particulate matters. It is not suitable for underwater work, firefighter, medical use or industry protection. GB 2626 masks are suitable for protecting from dust, mist, fume, microorganism and others. It is not suitable for hazardous gas or underwater work, firefighter work. GB 19083 masks are suitable for medical work environment.
.....
The GB/T 32610 mask Grade A means leakage is less than 10% and PFE has to be over ClassⅡ. For Grade B (Leakage is less than 15%), Grade C (Leakage is less than 25%) and Grade D (Leakage is less than 35%), the PFE has reached ClassⅢ.

Grade A leakage <= 10%
Grade B leakage <= 15%
Grade C leakage <= 25%
Grade D leakage <= 35%

Class I >= 99% (PFE)
Class II >= 95% (PFE)
Class III >= 90% (PFE)

Since most of the 3-ply face mask posted in SD are made in China and more likely have China Standard mentioned on the package, here are some information about those Standard...

https://matters.news/@avengermojo...rvpmmiv734


Medical Face Mask ( YY/T0969)
Basically this is a BFE (3.0 Microns Bacteria Filtration Efficiency ) >95% Mask. It is most likely a 2D flat base with 3 layers. Basically this is considered as a regular face mask that both US and Europe has higher standard requirement then this.
Other test standards go along with this mask will include:
GB/T 15979 for one time use hygienic standard. GB/T 16886 for In-vitro Cytotoxic, Skin Irritation /Sensitization (ISO 10993)
Surgical Mask ( YY/0469 )
This mask standard is a bit mood because it is BFE > 95% and PFE ( Particle Filtration Efficiency ) > 30% only. Which doesn't match another standard in the US or Europe. But it does include the fluid-resistant test and the flammable test.
Protective Face Mask (GB2626–2006, GB19083–2010)
These two standard could be confusing but their filterability is basically the same. The only difference is the fluid resistance test with GB19083. In the US NIOSH standard it should be called Surgical, and the Europian standard is Type R. Chinese has 3 levels from PFE KN95 > 95%, KN99 > 98% KN100> 99%. So KN95 is basically the same as N95, N99 similar to KN99 and N100 similar to KN100. Europian FFP1 starting with > 80% FFP2 > 94% and FFP3 >99% .
ASTM F2100 Level 1 2 3 (USA Standard)
China only has Surgical Mask which is only 30% PFE and F2100 Level 1 is 95%, Level 2 is 98% and Level 3 is the same with hight fluid resistance. So you are highly unlikely to find ASTM 2 or 3 in the market unless they are US-specific factory.
EN14683 and EN149
Europian Standard use their sharp to different the two standards so EN14683 is basically the Medical Mask with no PFE filter just like China YY/T0969 . has Type I, II, III and representing 95%, 98, 99% BFE. And EN149 is the cup sharp respirator with PFE over 80%, 94% and 99%.
Surgical and Non-Surgical
The Europian standard surgical fluid-resistant represented by Type R at the end. For example, EN149 FFP2 Type IIR is basically the same as Surgical N95 and GB19083–2010 Level 1.


If we are going outside but not an enclosed environment, a Medical face mask should be enough to stop droplet getting into our system. Even the filter is not PFE > 95% the static of the mask will able to attract virus in the aerosol. If you are going to a room for a longer period of time, a KN95 would be better which is PFE > 95%. If you are medical front line that requires staying in a high viral loan environment for a long period of time, the N95 with a surgical face mask at the front can help extend the usage duration. For ICU it is better Surgical N95 or above and Surgical Face mask at the front or a face shield.