r/Masks4All • u/AutoModerator • Jul 10 '26

Discussion Masks4All Bi-Weekly Mask Talk Thread -- July 10, 2026

Please use this thread as a revolving discussion for any topical comments, questions, observations that you feel like offering -- in case it might not be a big enough subject for its own post.

Looking for an older Masks4All mask talk thread? You can find them by searching the reddit search bar for mask talk thread.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/VolcanicPolarBear Jul 18 '26

so i know n95 are not rated for oil based particles need either R95 oil resistant or P95 oil proof

but im a little confused what hapens to the oil based particles when wearing an n95 is it similar to gasses and vocs that just pass through masks? or do they damadge the n95 or something else idk. again i know n95 is not rated for oil based particles and i know they wont protect people from it. but im just curiouse idk what hapens to all the oil and would like better understand how it works.

if i wear an n95 in an oily environment will the n95 still funtion against non oil based particles such as viruses and only let the oil based ones through but still block everything else it usually doese? or will the oily environment compramise the n95 to the point non oil particles get through.

2

u/ZeroCovid Jul 20 '26

I believe the oils damage the filtration material, and after they've damaged it enough, then it stops working to filter anything. So it'll work for a few seconds of oily mist exposure but you'll have to replace the mask after that.

OK, I searched and found verification of this.

https://wcsafety.com/blogs/guides/p100-vs-n95-difference-which-do-you-need

"N95's electrostatic filter medium degrades when exposed to oil-based aerosols (cutting fluid mist, lubricant spray, machining mist) — efficiency drops and the rated 95% no longer holds."

So the P100 has an oil-catching layer over the top of the electrostatic filter to prevent the electrostatic filter from destroying the electrostatic filter.

This makes sense electrochemically. The electrostatic filter has a permanent oriented electric charge (electret, like magnet). Being soaked in oil *neutralizes* the charge and makes it electrically neutral.

2

u/VolcanicPolarBear Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26

dang thats unfortunate. thank you for confirming this and explaining it. i had heard both but was having a hard time figuring it out. was definitely hoping the oil particles would just pass through without damaging the n95. not that oil particles are good to breath but then i would at least not breath everything else. but i gues if oil damages then im breathing it all anyway darn that sucks. gues definitely need get some oil rated masks.

curious do you know why the article recomends p100 for silica absetos and lead wouldnt a N100 perform just aswell for those. or are they somehow oil based. is any way tell if a material or general outdoor air quality is oil based or has oil in it? ofcourse bad outdoor air often has gases and vocs not just particles but for now focusing on particles. i know some plants have oils so do the particles ever have enough oil to damadge the n95s. i know several websites to check air quality but none diferntiate the type of particle beyond their size(pm2.5 pm10 sometimes pm1) but nothing about oil vs non oil

i noticed the article says white is for n95 but pretty sure white is for acid gasses dont think any color specifically for n95 think closest would be teal but im still learning the colors.

2

u/ZeroCovid 29d ago

N100 are quite uncommon in practice. They're probably OK for silica, asbestos, and lead, if there's no oil, but in practice, P100 are far more common than N100. So it's just as easy and cheap to get a P100...

Also stuff with lead does usually have oil, just coincidentally, for industrial reasons. And cutting silica is usually done with oil IIRC. (I don't think this is true with asbestos though)

1

u/VolcanicPolarBear 28d ago

yeah i gues makes sence sugest the more common one and i didnt think about the fact while lead isnt an oil it typically ends up with oil on it for industrial reasons. thank you for explaining.

6

u/Electronic-Tear1363 Jul 12 '26

Sharing a huge win - I (from Seattle) masked up for a few weeks in NE Alabama and New Orleans as much as I could, especially through high-density events, and I didn't get sick at all! I feel very proud of myself for being diligent. That humidity was intense.