Advancing Sustainable Insulation Through Development, Characterization, and Modeling of Mycelium-Based Biocomposites for improving hygrothermal comfort – MyceliumMAT

In a world increasingly aware of environmental issues, the construction industry faces a crucial challenge: to obtain sustainable building materials to reduce energy consumption, minimize carbon emissions, and improve hygrothermal comfort. The concept of 'hygrothermal comfort' comes into play in this context, promoting integrated regulation of temperature and humidity, which not only contributes to the well-being of occupants but also to the energy efficiency of buildings (with economic, environmental and geopolitical perspectives).
However, traditional insulation materials, despite their effectiveness in thermal resistance, have significant limitations. They are not only incapable of optimally regulating humidity, but they also pose environmental issues as they typically come from non-renewable sources and have high intrinsic energy.
In response to these challenges, the design of materials based on biomass and fungal mycelium offers a revolutionary path. These materials have advantageous properties, both environmentally and in terms of hygrothermal performance. However, the integration of these innovative materials is hindered by a lack of in-depth knowledge and clear application guidelines, highlighting the need for a full exploration of their heat and mass transfer properties.
The project aims to develop new sustainable thermal insulation materials based on fungal mycelium for hygrothermal comfort. It revolves around five interconnected tasks, from optimizing fungal cultivation conditions to the complete characterization of the produced insulation panels, including dual-scale modeling strategies to examine the microscopic and macroscopic dimensions of heat and mass transfers. By combining experimental and digital methodologies, the project aspires to unlock the full potential of mycelium-based insulation materials, paving the way for more sustainable construction practices.