Panel · 50–100 mm
Fungi-Based — indicative fig. O·07
Fire B Limited combustibilityEmbodied carbon 0.37kgCO₂e/kg LowCompressive 0.06MPa StructuralDesign life 20yr
Sustainable bio-composite insulation panels grown from fungal mycelium on agricultural waste substrates, offering low embodied carbon, inherent fire resistance, and thermal performance comparable to conventional insulation materials.
01 Physical
Density 100kg/m³
Specific gravity 0.1
Porosity 93%
Water absorption 250%
Hardness 15
UV resistance Poor
Chemical resistance Moderate
pH tolerance 5-9
Surface roughness 500μm
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 0.2MPa
Compressive strength 0.06MPa
Flexural strength 0.3MPa
Shear strength 0.15MPa
Poisson's ratio 0.25
Impact resistance 32kJ/m³
Creep resistance Limited
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.044W/m·K
Specific heat 1700J/kg·K
Thermal expansion 15×10⁻⁶/°C
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class B
Ignition temp 250°C
Flame spread index 25
Smoke dev. index 50
Heat release rate 65
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon 0.37
Carbon footprint -150
Embodied energy 7.7MJ/kg
Water footprint 50L/kg
Recyclability 0%
Recycled content 85%
Renewable content 100%
Circular score 9
VOC emissions 0.01
Toxicity rating Non-toxic
LEED contribution 8
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 20years
Maintenance interval 60months
Material cost (range) 150-300
Material cost (per unit) 200AUD/m³
Lead time 21days
Lifecycle cost 350AUD/m³
Annual maintenance 0AUD/m²/year
Market availability Limited
07 Assessment
Advantages
- Carbon-negative material (sequesters CO₂ during growth)
- Biodegradable at end of life
- Low thermal conductivity (0.04-0.06 W/m·K)
- Inherent fire resistance through char formation
- VOC-free and non-toxic
- Grown from agricultural waste
- Lightweight (100-200 kg/m³)
- Good acoustic absorption (75% at 1000Hz)
- Can be moulded into complex shapes
Constraints
- High water absorption without treatment
- Limited mechanical strength for structural applications
- No established Australian Standards
- Production time of 10-20 days
- Requires controlled growth conditions
- Limited commercial availability in Australia
- Variability in properties based on substrate and species
- Requires protective coatings for exterior use
- Currently higher cost than conventional insulation
08 Applications
A1 Thermal insulation for walls and roofs
A2 Acoustic insulation panels
A3 Non-structural interior wall panels
A4 Temporary construction elements
A5 Packaging and cushioning materials
A6 Fire-resistant cladding cores
A7 Furniture and design elements
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.