Acoustic and Thermal Properties of Mycelium-based Insulation Materials Produced from Desilicated Wheat Straw - Part B

The acoustic and thermal properties were determined for biodegradable insulation materials produced from desilicated wheat straws with two different fungi and three different incubation periods. Ganoderma lucidum (GL) and Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) fungi and wheat straw were exposed to fungal incubation for 10, 20, and 30 days to produce mycelium-based insulation materials. The sound absorption coefficients of mycelium-based insulation boards produced using PO fungus were higher than those produced with GL fungus. It was found that the acoustic absorption coefficients of insulation boards produced using PO fungus at 1,000 Hz were 87 to 99% according to the incubation periods. The sound transmission losses of mycelium-based insulation boards produced ranged from 46.4 to 59.7 dBa at 1000 Hz. The group of boards labeled as YP2 exhibited the lowest level of sound transmission loss, whereas GL2 revealed the highest degree of sound transmission loss at 1000 Hz. The lowest thermal conductivity coefficient was obtained in insulation boards produced with PO fungus and an incubation period of 20 days. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of mycelium-based insulation materials was considerably higher than the insulation boards commonly used today. Thermogravimetric analysis and derivative thermogravimetry curves of mycelium-based insulation materials were also determined.