Development of a Mycelium-Based Thermal Insulation Material
2025
Ilze Luksta, Ilze Vamža, Dagnija Blumberga

The study explores the potential of mycelium-based materials as sustainable thermal insulation for construction. Mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi, grows on organic substrates such as agricultural byproducts, forming a lightweight, biodegradable composite with insulating properties. The experiments focus on optimizing the material’s thermal conductivity and mechanical strength . Mycelium insulation demonstrates thermal conductivity values comparable to traditional materials like mineral wool and expanded polystyrene (EPS), with a range of 0.039 to 0.05 W/m·K. The production process employs renewable resources, is non-toxic, and aligns with circular economy principles by repurposing agricultural waste. Challenges remain in enhancing water resistance and mechanical adaptability. The findings underline mycelium’s potential as an eco-friendly alternative in modern sustainable construction, emphasizing its role in reducing carbon footprints and promoting resource efficiency.


Keywords
Agricultural by-product, eco-friendly materials, mycelium, thermal insulation
DOI
10.2478/rtuect-2025-0014
Hyperlink
https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/rtuect-2025-0014

Luksta, I., Vamža, I., Blumberga, D. Development of a Mycelium-Based Thermal Insulation Material. Environmental and Climate Technologies, 2025, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp.201-211. ISSN 1691-5208. e-ISSN 2255-8837. Available from: doi:10.2478/rtuect-2025-0014

Publication language
English (en)
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