Disposable masks, the new pollution problem, could be used to improve concrete

In many places microfibers are already sometimes added to concrete to strengthen it, but using them is expensive. The microfiber-reinforced concrete can reduce the amount of cement needed for a project and possibly make the concrete last longer, saving carbon emissions as well as money for builders and owners. The manufacture of cement for concrete is a greenhouse gas intensive process. One way of of decreasing the amount of cement used and disposing of the masks, is to incorporate the old masks into a cement mixture to create stronger, more durable concrete. Made of a polypropylene or polyester fabric where it contacts the skin and an ultra-fine polypropylene fibre for the filtering layers, the medical masks have fibres that can be useful for the concrete industry. If they are not reused, disposable masks can remain in the environment for decades and pose a risk for the ecosystem. Researchers at Washington State University have showed that the mixture using mask materials was 47% stronger than commonly used cement after a month of curing. 



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