Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Tirupati signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amara Raja Group (ARG) to develop reusable face masks equivalent to N-95. The masks would be distributed to the frontline healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
K.N. Satyanarayana, Director of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Tirupati formally exchanged the signed copies of the MoU with S. Vijayanand, Chief Executive Officer at Amara Raja Batteries Limited (ARBL).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the presence of the founder of Amara Raja Group, Chairman Ramachandra N. Galla.
According to the MoU agreement, “The reusable masks are to be distributed to frontline healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The doctors, hospital staff, police personnel, security personnel, and other government departments will be provided with the masks.”
IIT Tirupati developed a prototype that consists of a flexible reusable body designed for face masks using 3D printing technology. Additionally, the N95 filter which is replaceable after every use is developed using electrospinning technology.
The team at Amara Raja Group will implement the large-scale production of the reusable masks using technology transfer from IIT Tirupati.
Read: IIT Tirupati Admission 2020
To provide efficient and large-scale sterilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), IIT Tirupati has also developed a prototype of a sterilization unit using hybrid technology.
The sterilization unit fuses an advanced oxidation process with the UV-C photon-based technology to carry through rapid sterilization against a wide range of bacteria and viruses.
An industrial-scale sterilization unit will be developed at the Amara Raja group to ensure pre-packaging sterilization of the masks. Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupati laid its foundation stone in March 2015. The institute is located in Yerpedu, Chittoor District, which is spread over an area of 530 acres.
Under the support and guidance of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT M), IIT Tirupati conducted operations of its first academic year 2015-2016.
IIT Tirupati offers both UG and PG courses. The 4-year full-time B.Tech course in Computer Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering.
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