As details of reported chemical weapons attacks in Syria have emerged over the past week, National Geographic took interest in the functionality of gas masks, which Israelis were obtaining from local distribution centers in anticipation of an attack.
For an engineering perspective on the way gas masks work, writer Jaclyn Skurie interviewed MechSE professor John Georgiadis, who focuses in fluid mechanics and thermal science research.
Written by Lyanne Alfaro
As details of reported chemical weapons attacks in Syria have emerged over the past week, National Geographic took interest in the functionality of gas masks, which Israelis were obtaining from local distribution centers in anticipation of an attack.
For an engineering perspective on the way gas masks work, writer Jaclyn Skurie interviewed MechSE professor John Georgiadis, who focuses in fluid mechanics and thermal science research.
He explained two parts of the mask that keep the user from inhaling any toxic contaminants in the air—a physical barrier, protecting the nose and mouth with fibers on the mask filter and a chemical process that removes toxic molecules, including Sarin, a nerve gas:
"Through adsorption, a solid or a liquid can trap particles on its surface—analogous to the way a cigarette filter reduces the amount of toxins a person inhales when smoking."
He also explained why gas mask filters are only good for three to four hours of use:
"There is a tricky compromise between creating an efficient filter that catches 99.99 percent of the toxic particles while also leaving enough open pores to breathe through. The masks are only meant to be worn for a short amount of time before the filter ultimately clogs up."