The Design
The effective design of the KaB Masks covers the area around your nose and mouth and rests under the chin. There was no need to create a filter pocket to insert a filter as the mask is designed and constructed to be the filter itself. An adjustable aluminum nose wire rests at the bridge of the nose. The mask is secured to your face at four points with the use of 550 paracord and cord lock. This unique design allows the mask to be contoured to YOUR face to provide a seal – eliminating foggy glasses and eliminates open gaps. It’s also very comfortable and attractive!
The Materials
In determining the right fabric, we established our criteria: we needed materials that were breathable, durable, washable, and reusable. We discovered that non-woven polypropylene and quilting cotton were excellent choices. Cotton, however, was not available. KaB Masks are made from a minimum of two layers of 100% Non-woven Polypropylene (NWPP), and the Ultra mask includes three layers. Each type of mask is breathable. Most important, our masks are durable, can be easily cleaned and are completely reusable.
Polypropylene Fabric
Polypropylene fabric is a nonwoven textile, which means that it is made directly from a material without any need for knitting or weaving. Polypropylene is breathable, soft, biodegradable, durable, rot and mildew resistant, liquid repellent, and tear resistant. The main benefit of polypropylene as a fabric is its moisture transfer abilities; this textile cannot absorb any moisture, and instead, moisture passes through polypropylene fabric entirely. This attribute allows moisture that is exuded while wearing a polypropylene garment to evaporate much more quickly than it would with a moisture-retaining garment. Therefore, this fabric is popular in textiles that are worn close to the skin. Polypropylene is a great material for making a face mask and it turned out to be better than just a cotton mask.
550 Paracord
550 pound test nylon paracord. The seven-strand core has been removed and the coreless paracord is ideal to secure the mask to your face.
Cord Lock
A cord lock enables the paracord to be pulled tight and keeps the mask to your desired tension until you decide to loosen or tighten.
17 Gauge Wire Aluminum Wire
The nose wire is constructed of 17 gauge aluminum wire.
Heat Shrink Tubing
2.4 mm 3:1 Heat Shrink tubing. The marine grade adhesive securely covers the ends of the aluminum nose wire to prevent any poking through of the nose wire.
Disclaimer
KaB Masks are not FDA-approved, not intended for medical use, and not proven to reduce the transmission of disease. However, the CDC recommends use of face coverings in public to reduce community spread by asymptomatic persons.