PRIMEIROS PASSOS PARA O N95: EQUIPAMENTO DE BAIXA TECNOLOGIA E ADAPTADO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO AUTÔNOMO DE MICROFIBRAS PLÁSTICAS PARA FILTRAÇÃO DE MÁSCARAS

The pandemic has brought unprecedented obstacles. One of the critical challenges was the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Additive manufacturing has emerged as a viable solution to address the PPE shortage. Developed 3D-printed masks were a way to combat market shortages, but producing the filter element remains an obstacle. This study documents research into the feasibility of applying the plastic casting technique using centrifugal melt spinning, a possible way to replicate existing processes. The concept is simple and similar to how cotton candy is made. The aim is to propose possible ways of using distributed manufacturing, recycling, and adapting local infrastructure to manufacture viable filters, comparing them with those produced using traditional methods.