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Perspectives of Insulating Biodegradable Composites Derived from Agricultural Lignocellulosic Biomass and Fungal Mycelium: A Comprehensive Study of Thermal Conductivity and Density Characteristics

Summary

Scientists created eco-friendly insulation material by combining agricultural waste like wheat, hemp, and flax straw with fungal mycelium as a natural binder. These composites are fully biodegradable, lightweight, and have thermal insulation properties comparable to conventional materials, offering a sustainable alternative for building insulation that performs better per unit weight than many traditional options.

Background

Agricultural lignocellulosic biomass waste presents an opportunity for sustainable insulation material production when combined with fungal mycelium as a binder. Mycelium-based composites offer biodegradability, low environmental impact, and thermal properties comparable to conventional insulators, making them promising alternatives for civil engineering applications.

Objective

To develop and characterize insulating composites from three types of agricultural lignocellulosic biomass (wheat, hemp, and flax straw) bound with Ganoderma lucidum fungal mycelium. The study aimed to evaluate thermal conductivity and density characteristics and introduce a new Thermal Conductivity-Weight Ratio (TC-WR) coefficient for comparative analysis with other natural insulation materials.

Results

Thermal conductivity measurements ranged from 0.043 to 0.056 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ across all composites. Optimal densities were identified as 60 kg·m⁻³ for wheat, 85 kg·m⁻³ for hemp, and 105 kg·m⁻³ for flax, with corresponding TC-WR coefficients of 0.28, 0.20, and 0.165 W⁻¹·kg⁻¹·m⁴·K respectively. Wheat-based composites demonstrated superior TC-WR performance among lignocellulosic mycelium composites studied.

Conclusion

Mycelium-based composites derived from agricultural biomass demonstrate competitive thermal-to-weight ratios positioning them among leading biodegradable insulation materials. These materials offer 100% biodegradability, resource renewability within six months, and potential for industrial production with lower costs and minimal regulation compared to conventional alternatives, making them attractive for civil engineering applications.
  • Published in:Biomimetics (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39590279, DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics9110707
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