Development of thermal insulation panels made from fungal biocomposites

Abstract

The development of sustainable materials from renewable resources based on the principles of circular economy is an important strategy to reduce the harmful effects of environmental pollu-tion and the scarcity of natural resources. Mycelium biocomposites are materials that result from the growth of fungi on organic substrates, notably agricultural residues. These novel materials represent a promising alternative in product manufacturing, both in terms of sustainable produc-tion and circular shelf life, and are apt for a wide range of applications, such as building materi-als, packaging, and architecture. However, there are only a few published studies on the subject available in the literature, and each with a different experimental setup and desired application, which hinders comparisons between studies as well as any thorough assessment of such materials for different conditions or applications. Thus, new approaches are needed to evaluate these mate-rials, especially given the additional variability in processing parameters related to the use of live microorganisms. This research project aims to establish a framework for the development of my-celium biocomposites from agricultural residues (peanut husks) and fungal mycelium (T. versicol-or and P. ostreatus), having as target its use as thermal insulation panels for rural buildings. The effects of the manufacturing steps and their variables on the mechanical and thermal properties of the final biocomposites will be systematically evaluated to develop a complete understanding of this class of material and enable the development of products. (AU)