The 3-ply disposal mask has 6 steps to test it quality.
1. Visual Test
Cut open your mask, you should see 3-layers. The 3 layers would typically consist of an outer hydrophobic non-woven layer, middle melt-blown layer (white), and an inner soft absorbent non-woven layer (green, blue, or white).
2. Non-flammability Test
The middle layer of a disposable mask is a melt-blown fabric, therefore, if you light it with a lighter, it will not burn like paper. Instead, it melts without flame.
3. Water-resistant Test
The outer-most layer is designed to be waterproof. Pour some water onto the outer layer and you should be able to see that the mask repels water properly.
4. Electrostatic Adsorption Test
There is an electrostatic effect in the melt-blown layer. If you tear the melt-blown layer into strips, you will feel the electrostatic adsorption effect, and you can also adsorb the melt-blown layer on stainless steel due to its large amount of electric charge.
5. Light Transmission Test
The middle layer, which is used to trap dust from entering or exiting the mask, should not be too loose. This will ensure the mask can catch the percentage of dust it’s supposed to.
6. Breath Test
3-ply disposable mask is designed with melt-blown layer that is critical as a filter to contain droplets by electrostatic-ally adsorbing them on the surface hence it cannot infiltrate the mask. This will ensure extinguishing fire with your breath is highly impossible.