Ask HN: Cleaning 3D-printed PLA/polytherane/acetate face shields of SARS-CoV-2?

3 points

6 years ago

My mom's working in a nursing home that just had the first COVID-19 outbreak in our city. The floor is quarantined and has dedicated, equipped workers and service, but no one else is protected against coronavirus. The PSWs and cleaning staff are at particular risk since they move around a lot, cannot afford sick days, and often lack voice in speaking up for their rights because of a very precarious economic situation. Despite/because of this, they are left to their own devices in finding PPE.

My mom is sewing face masks. I'm making face shields. I have McCordick Workhorse polycarbonate face shield visors[0]. My friend is printing face mask headbands out of PLA (polylactic acid). After this batch we're moving to a light face mask design[1] that will use transparency film[2] which looks like it's made of cellulose acetate.

My mom will be wearing the units for 8h/day almost straight. Afterwards she'll come home and we have 24h to disinfect it. Is soap water enough to clean these materials, or should we use bleach? With the polycarbonate we considered dishwashing but the PLA softens at 60°C[3]. I also wonder about the shielding efficacy of cellulose acetate (very light) v. polytherane (quite unwieldy).

[0]https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/replacement-face-shield-visor/A-p8181745e

[1]https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4230812 https://www.staples.ca/products/368095-en-staples-copier-transparency-film-8-12-x-11-100pack

[2]https://www.staples.ca/products/368095-en-staples-copier-transparency-film-8-12-x-11-100pack

[3]https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/7n9dmz/melting_point_of_pla/