Fundamental studies for designing insulation panels from wood shavings and filamentous fungi

The production of environmentally friendly thermal insulation boards is important for the building industry to reduce its environmental impact. The primary objective of this study was to test the feasibility of producing wood-based insulation panels as well as to use fungi as a binding agent and to explore whether a bio-based composite could be a viable alternative to the standard traditional foam insulation board and more expensive wood fibreboards (mainly available in European markets). Experiments were conducted to determine which combinations of wood fibers from selected northern tree species, wood decay fungi, and growth conditions were most suitable for panel making. The results showed that under the determined optimal growth conditions, Polyporus arcularius and Trametes suaveolens on birch wood shavings provided the best combination. Outcomes from initial physical screening tests, particularly thermal conductivity, suggested that these panels had a comparable performance to traditional insulation material.