A third-year mechanical engineering student, P. Mohan Aditya, from the SRM University in Andhra Pradesh, has gained a copyright for a biodegradable face shield he developed in May last year. The face shield, named by Aditya as Face Shield 2.0, is made using biodegradable substances. While the transparent visor is made of a thin layer of 175-micron reusable plastic, the headband of the shield is made using three-ply corrugated cardboard.
The face shield, which is priced at an affordable ₹ 15, has a strength of 16kg/sq cm, making it durable yet lightweight. It is also adjustable and can fit all head sizes. While being biodegradable, the face shield, much like conventional ones, acts as an efficient layer of protection against mucous membranes, making it useful as a part of COVID-19 protection gear.
In a statement about the shield, Aditya said, "With an increasing environmental degradation, we should move to the eco-friendly alternatives to develop products/services. Therefore, I thought to develop the face shields from reusable plastics and cardboard, which is easily degradable. After discovering a shortage in the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) globally, an idea struck my mind. Immediately I started researching on developing a piece of standard equipment to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Image Source: Twitter/indiaedudiary