Why Global Standards Matter for Melt Blown PP?

Melt-blown PP is the core material for manufacturing medical masks, air filtration equipment, and high-precision industrial filter elements. The quality of melt-blown PP directly determines the protective performance of the product. For example, a piece of melt-blown nonwoven with substandard filtration efficiency may cause the mask to fail to block viruses and even cause medical accidents.

In global trade, different markets have strict thresholds for material certification. If the standards are ignored, the product may be removed from the shelves at best, or a heavy fine may be imposed. Therefore, choosing compliant melt blown PP is not only a technical issue, but also a strategic decision for the long-term development of the enterprise.

Main certifications and standards for melt blown PP worldwide

1. Core International Standards

• ISO 10993

It is used to evaluate whether a material is irritating or toxic to human tissue. For example, the melt blown PP inner layer of medical masks needs to pass the ISO 10993-5 cytotoxicity test to ensure the safety of long-term contact with the skin.

• ASTM F2100

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) divides masks into three levels (Level 1~3), among which Level 3 requires the particle filtration efficiency (PFE) of meltblown PP to be ≥98%, which is suitable for high-risk medical environments.

• EN 14683

It requires the material bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE) to be ≥95% and the air permeability pressure difference (Delta P) to be <40 Pa/cm², balancing protection and wearing comfort.

• NIOSH N95

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the United States stipulates that the filtration efficiency of N95 masks for 0.3 micron particles must be ≥ 95% and must pass a tightness test.

2. Environmental and safety standards

• REACH Regulation

The EU requires that the content of 24 hazardous substances (such as lead, cadmium, and phthalates) in melt blown PP be below the limit to prevent chemical pollution.

• RoHS Directive

It restricts hazardous substances in electronic and electrical products. If melt blown PP is used in air purifier filters, it must comply with this standard.

How to verify whether melt blown PP meets the standards?

1. Key performance testing methods and tools

Filtration efficiency test

• PFE test: Use NaCl aerosol to simulate 0.1~5 micron particles to detect the material interception ability.
• BFE test: Use Staphylococcus aureus suspension to verify the bacterial filtration effect.
• Equipment example: TSI 8130 automatic filter efficiency tester.

Air permeability (pressure drop) test

• Use a differential pressure gauge to measure the resistance of air passing through a material. For example, the pressure drop of an N95 mask must be less than 343 Pa, otherwise it may cause difficulty in breathing.

Fiber structure and weight analysis

• Electron microscope observation of fiber diameter (ideal value 1~5 microns) and distribution uniformity.
• Gram weight (gsm) detection: Medical meltblown PP is usually 25~50 gsm, and the gram weight fluctuation must be <±5%.

2. 3 key steps in the supplier audit

Step 1: Document review

• You can ask the supplier to provide a third-party test report (such as SGS, Intertek) for the past 6 months, focusing on PFE, BFE, gram weight and other data.

Step 2: Production site inspection

Please confirm whether the factory has the following conditions:

• 100,000-level dust-free workshop (air particles ≤ 100,000/cubic meter).
• Electrostatic electret equipment (to improve the electrostatic adsorption capacity of materials).
• Raw material storage conditions (medical-grade polypropylene needs to be protected from light and moisture).

Step 3: Small-batch trial production

• You can order samples for actual production testing and send them to the certification agency of the target market for inspection.

Dawn Group's compliance solutions: from standards to practice

Dawn Polymer has 20 years of production history of Meltblown PP since 2003. The Meltblown PP produced by high-quality polypropylene granules has the characteristics of stable MFR and small fluctuation range, narrow molecular weight distribution, low ash content, no other product residues, and excellent spinning performance. 

Due to Dawn's significant position in China's meltblown material industry, it took the lead in drafting the national standard GB/T 30923-2014 for plastics- Polypropylene materials for meltblown, playing a positive role in regulating the market and product quality of China's meltblown materials.

Dawn Polymer has been the largest manufacturer of Meltblown PP in China with a production capacity of 1,200 tons per day. 

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