Development of an insulating material based on Trametes elegans mycelium and the study of its hygrothermal properties

Abstract

This work presents the hygroscopic and thermal properties of a material developed from cornstalk and mycelium. The materials were produced using strains of macromycete fungi Trametes elegans as a natural binder for application as thermal isolation. The results shown are for the equilibrium moisture content on a wet basis and on a dry basis, moisture absorption in different relative humidity environments and thermal conductivity. The results obtained show that the hygrothermal properties of this material make it suitable as a thermal insulator, having a thermal conductivity value of 0.043 W/(m K) and absorbing less than 9% humidity in environments of up to 85% relative humidity.