Crush resistant filtering face mask

1. A filtering face mask that comprises:

a) a mask body that is adapted to fit over the nose and mouth of a person and that comprises:

i) a first shaping layer that has been molded;

ii) a second shaping layer that has been molded;

iii) a filtration layer that is disposed between the first and second shaping layers;

iv) a first adhesive layer that adheres the first shaping layer to the filtration layer; and

v) a second adhesive layer that adheres the second shaping layer to the filtration layer; and

b) a harness that is attached to the mask body.

2. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the first and second shaping layers are molded into a cup-shaped configuration.

3. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the first and second adhesive layer are made from fibers.

4. The filtering face mask of claim 3 , wherein the first and second adhesive layer are made from a web of fibers, which web has a basis weight less than about 20 grams per square meter.

5. The filtering face mask of claim 3 , wherein the adhesive layer is made from a web of fibers, which web has a basis weight less than about 15 grams per square meter.

6. The filtering face mask of claim 4 , wherein the first and second adhesive layer are made from fibers that have an effective fiber diameter of about 10 to 50 micrometers.

7. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the filtration layer contains materials that exhibit a melting temperature that is greater than the melting temperature of bonding components in the shaping layer, which bonding components in the shaping layer have a melting temperature greater than a melting component(s) of the first and second adhesive layer.

8. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the first and second shaping layers have a basis weight of 50 to 130 grams per square meter.

9. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the first shaping layer has a basis weight that is about the same as the basis weight of the second shaping layer.

10. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body exhibits a stiffness that is at least 30 percent greater than the stiffness of a mask body of the same construction but does not comprise the first and second adhesive layers.

11. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body exhibits a stiffness that is at least 40 percent greater than the stiffness of a mask body of the same construction but does not comprise the first and second adhesive layers.

12. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the first and second shaping layers include bicomponent fibers.

13. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the first and second shaping layers include at least 50 weight percent bicomponent fibers.

14. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the filtration layer comprises meltblown polymeric microfibers that have been electrically charged.

15. The filtering face mask of claim 14 , wherein the meltblown microfibers comprise polypropylene, poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) or combinations thereof.

16. The filtering face mask of claim 15 , wherein the microfibers have been electrically charge by corona charging, hydrocharging, or a combination thereof.

17. The filtering face mask of claim 16 , wherein the meltblown microfibers have fluorine atoms located on the surface of the fibers.

18. The filtering face mask of claim 17 , wherein the filtration layer has a basis weight of about 20 to 30 grams per square meter.

19. The filtering face mask of claim 1 , wherein the mask body has been made by a cold molding process.

20. A mask body that comprises:

i) a first shaping layer that has been molded;

ii) a second shaping layer that has been molded;

iii) a filtration layer that is disposed between the first and second shaping layers;

iv) a first adhesive layer that adheres the first shaping layer to the filtration layer; and

v) a second adhesive layer that adheres the second shaping layer to the filtration layer.