Page 5 - 22 Cotton SA magazine

OUTLOOK ON TEXTILES

OUTLOOK ON

TEXTILES

by Helena Claassens and Dr Annette Bennett,
Cotton SA (ICAC, shortened and amended article)

COTTON OR POLYESTER? Surgical masks and non-medical face
The COVID-19 pandemic warrants com- masks have been found to be effective in
munity protection through personal protective preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2
equipment (PPE) that commonly includes a in aerosols by more than 95%. The wearing
face mask. By early May 2020, wearing of a face mask outdoors in Beijing during
face masks was made mandatory for the the occurrence of the 2003 SARS virus was
general public. In developing and least- associated with a 70% reduction in risk
developed countries, face masks are either of getting infected, when compared to not
in short supply, inaccessible or unaffordable wearing one. PPE such as face masks could
for the poor, who are in the majority. play a key role in minimising the contagion.
However, fabrics made of cotton, polyester Polyester, a synthetic fabric with its origin
and their blends are widely available to in petroleum, is one of the world’s most
make home-made non-medical face masks popular fabrics. It has formed the basis on
that are also cost-effective and washable. which many products were manufactured
In South Africa, there is a huge drive to during the Second World War. Among
manufacture masks. Clothing factories have allied forces there was a demand for the
shifted their focus to the making of masks. making of parachutes from polyester.
Many entrepreneurs have come to the fore Polyester was preferred because it does
to make and sell masks and many welfare not shrink or wrinkle easily. For this reason,
organisations have mobilised homeless polyester is blended with cotton, to make
and jobless people to help make masks for a fabric that shrinks or creases less than
schools and homes. others. Polyester, however, contributes to

Volume 22 No 3 September 2020 | 5