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Mycelium-bound ash sawdust biocomposite as a sustainable thermal insulation material for construction applications
 
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1
Department of Construction and Geoengineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland
 
2
Department of Building Production, Institute of Civil Engineering, Infrastructure and Life Safety, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Ukraine
 
3
Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Tomasz Garbowski   

Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poland
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
Growing interest in sustainable construction materials has increased attention toward bio-based insulation systems with low density and renewable origin. This study presents an integrated experimental assessment of a mycelium-bound biocomposite produced from ash sawdust and Ganoderma lucidum as a potential alternative for selected non-load-bearing insulation applications. The fabrication process included substrate sterilization, controlled inoculation, incubation, and final drying to obtain stable test specimens. A comprehensive laboratory program was conducted to determine density, moisture content, thermal conductivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, compressive response, and indicative fire-performance parameters. The average thermal conductivity was approximately 0.054 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, placing the material within the broader range reported for lightweight bio-based insulation materials, although above the level of high-performance synthetic foams. Compression testing indicated moderate mechanical resistance potentially suitable for selected non-load-bearing applications. Fire testing confirmed combustible behaviour of the present formulation, indicating that further improvement in reaction-to-fire performance would be required for broader construction use. Overall, the results identify mycelium-bound ash sawdust composites as a promising renewable insulation concept. However, additional studies are necessary regarding long-term durability, moisture resistance, dimensional stability, and fire-performance optimization before wider implementation can be considered.
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