Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy
Merlin Theodore, with the N95 filter material at DOE’s Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at ORNL, collaborated with the research team that developed the process for converting melt-spinning capabilities into the production of polypropylene. The innovation, which was transferred to industry for the mass production of N95 masks and material, was honored with a 2021 FLC Impact Award.