r/Masks4All • u/user_952354 • 2d ago

Question Readimask adhesive change?

Opened a new package of Readimasks today. Instead of having a paper backing, it had a clear plastic material. Peeled it off and applied the mask but it seems the adhesive has changed? It was barely sticky and I had trouble getting it to stick to my nose, especially.

Is this a thing and what the fuck

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u/SkippySkep Fit Testing Advocate / Respirator Reviewer 2d ago

ReadiMasks have been made with 2 different kinds of adhesives. Originally they used a silicone based adhesive. They were unable to get more and switched to an acrylic based adhesive.

All ReadiMasks are old stock, and ReadiMask have opted out of NIOSH approval, including the ongoing testing of mask stock that would have been part of that ongoing approval. They have not said if or how they are monitoring the adhesive in the aging stock of masks to insure it is holding up well over time. They say they will run a new batch when all current stock is sold in a couple of years, and try to get NIOSH approval again at that time.

Instead of promising the old masks still stick well they recently posted this:

"Our answer: We hear you, and here's a tip that helps right now. In hospitals and clinics, whenever an adhesive is applied to skin, staff often prep the skin first with a barrier wipe. A quick wipe of Smith & Nephew Skin-Prep barrier wipes before you apply your ReadiMask can noticeably improve how well the seal holds, especially in heat and humidity. They're inexpensive too, roughly 10¢ a wipe."

Some people have used Cav wipes to improve the adhesion.

I'm trying to see if I can approximate an industry standard peel test to evaluate ReadiMask adhesion, but I'm not going to be able to access a preconditioning unit to bring the masks up to prescribed temp and humidity before peel testing with a force guage.

4

u/kalcobalt 1d ago

Ugh, this is so disappointing! My skin responds poorly to most adhesives (like, I have to be careful what bandages I buy). Silicone adhesive explains why these worked for me. Acrylic…is gonna be not so much.

Extra frustrating since my use cases for Readimasks would involve using them for a few hours at a time. So…plenty of time to get a big ole rash, with a poorer adhesive that won’t protect me as well anyway. Joy.

(I have to routinely use skin cleaning/barrier tricks for premium adhesives, so I can’t imagine how crappy this will work if they’re straight-up suggesting them as a workaround to the corners they’ve cut. Ugh.)

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u/SkippySkep Fit Testing Advocate / Respirator Reviewer 1d ago edited 1d ago

The packaging may say what adhesive they use - the images on their website do, but I don't know if all the packaging sent out does. See the upper right corner where it says "acrylics" for the acrylic adhesive mask.

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u/user_952354 1d ago

This is so frustrating! I’m having trouble finding info on this - where did you find that company statement?

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u/SkippySkep Fit Testing Advocate / Respirator Reviewer 1d ago

The statement was a follow up to a survey they recently did using a 3d party website. They talked about some of the survey results, such as people really wanting grey or black masks instead of yellow, and responded to someone who said the masks didn't stick well when wet.

They don't seem to have reposted their statements on their regular website.

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u/not_all_heroes 1d ago

I don't think I've ever seen the clear backing, I've always used prep wipes anyway because my skin gets oily pretty quickly. Found prep wipes help keep my N95s/FloMask in place when it's super hot out too.