Fungal Mycelium-Based Insulators

Deep Dive Into The World of Mycology

Mycology is a branch of biology that deals with fungi, including mycelium. This branch of science also deals with how fungi can be useful to human life (Mycology, n.d.). This product is an example of how mycology can be applied in the real world. Due to the nature of mycelium, its potential can be harnessed and made useful to science and our lifestyle. Whether or not a success or a failure, this research can lead to even more research and development in the field of mycology and a greater appreciation for fungi and their benefits to the world.

Implementing Heat and Sound Insulation

Mycelium's greatest feature is its ability to diffuse heat efficiently, which is why these researchers are interested in harnessing its power. Thermal insulation, the process of reducing heat transfer, is vital for the demand of optimal thermal environments, especially in the fields of industry, medicine, energy, and also to accommodate the needs of people (Concept Group LLC, n.d.). BIOHM's panels are highly effective for thermal insulation, achieving a thermal conductivity as low as 0.03W/m.K (BIOHM, n.d).

Another great feature of mycelium is its ability to absorb at least 70% of high-pitched sounds, which is extremely useful to solve problems related to the issue of noise pollution (Walter & Gürsoy, 2022). Acoustic insulation generally refers to the process of reducing sound transmission. Using materials that can absorb, dampen or reflect sound waves is generally the most common method of acoustic insulation.

Ensuring Material Strength and Durability

Compressive strength is how much stress an object can take before it breaks, and is used to closely examine the structure of an object (Corrosionpedia, 2019). Researches have shown that mycelium is just as durable as conventional materials (BIOHM, n.d.). And although its compressive strength (0.2 MPa) isn't as strong as a traditional brick's (28 MPa), it can still be used instead on interior walls and as insulators (van der Hoeven, 2020).

Maintaining Sustainibility and Ecofriendliness

Carbon footprint is how much greenhouse gases are emitted from human-related actions (The Nature Conservancy, n.d.). The greater the carbon footprint, the greater the consequences it has on the environment, leading to climate change and global warming. Therefore, scientists are urgently looking for ways to help reduce the global carbon footprint. BIOHM's mycelium innovation manages to do exactly this through its manufacturing process. As stated before, mycelium is firstly grown naturally using landfill wastes which contain high amounts of carbon. The carbon-negative process allows the mycelium to efficiently segregate the carbon content in the waste, which adds up to at least 16 tonnes of carbon segregated per month, provided the current production level of the material (BIOHM, n.d.).

Conclusion

WHAT NOW?

These mycelium-based insulators can be useful for human life by incorporating it into our everyday appliances. These insulators may be incorporated into gloves, cooking utensils, and other metallic objects for better heat insulation. These insulators may also be incorporated into cooling fans, car engines, and other noise producers for better sound insulation. Furthermore, this product can pave the way for other researches on future sustainable biomaterials. This product will eventually develop a greater future for mankind and the environment in general.