Designing Advanced Respiratory Protective Devices for Pandemics: Performance, Mechanism and Future Perspectives (The Textile Institute Book Series)

Designing Advanced Respiratory Protective Devices for Pandemics: Performance, Mechanism and Future Perspectives identifies emerging and critical issues that directly or indirectly influence the protective performance of Respiratory Protective Devices (RPDs), along with important future research directions. The severity of the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the vital role of respiratory protection provided by PPE (and RPD) in novel infectious respiratory disease control. A wealth of recent research on coronavirus mitigation measures is combined with prior information on infectious diseases, RPDs, and human physiological and psychological responses to make this a fundamental resource on recent advances, innovative perspectives on respiratory protection, and new applications.

The effectiveness of such disease control measures rely greatly on the performance of the RPD, user compliance, and proper use. Only an interdisciplinary approach to this issue can lead to success.

• Combines introductory material on the nature of infectious disease and mechanisms of respiratory protection with cutting-edge research
• Examines the different material properties that lead to successful RPDs, including breathability, comfort, and recyclability
• Explains different methods for RPD test, evaluation, and approval from regulatory agencies worldwide

Dr Guowen Song lectures in human ecology at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research concentrates on the protection and comfort of textile materials and garments with particular emphasis on the understanding and modelling of heat and moisture transfer in clothing.

Dr. Rui Li is a Research Assistant Professor at Iowa State University, specializing in the interaction between the human body and the environment through clothing systems, with a focus on the development and evaluation of personal protective equipment (PPE). He earned his Ph.D. in Apparel Merchandising and Design from Iowa State University, where he now leads initiatives to design innovative testing devices, develop advanced thermoregulation models for human extremities, and explore smoke contamination mechanisms in PPE. Dr. Li's work is crucial in establishing new testing standards and enhancing the safety, comfort, and functionality of PPE for professions such as firefighting and healthcare. His influential research, supported by significant grants from organizations like FEMA, has significantly advanced textile science, improving occupational safety and public health. Dr. Li's educational background and current academic contributions continue to shape the future of protective clothing design and safety standards.