Mycelium Insulation for Cold Climate Thermal Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current thermal insulation materials in cold climates, such as polymeric foams, are non-renewable, pose environmental health risks, and have complex manufacturing processes with high energy inputs and waste, while eco-friendly alternatives like mycelium-based materials face challenges in cold environments due to slow growth and high production costs.

Innovation Solution

Development of biodegradable insulation materials using a structural scaffold with a nutritive media for temperature resilient fungi, which can colonize and produce a self-healing, hydrophobic skin, offering thermal conductivity and mechanical properties comparable to synthetic foams, and can be produced locally to reduce transportation and recycling issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If polymeric foams are used for thermal insulation, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but environmental harm and non-renewability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulation performanceVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental material parameter from synthetic polymeric foam to biological mycelium-based material, transforming the insulation material from non-renewable and environmentally harmful to renewable and biodegradable, while maintaining thermal insulation performance through controlled mycelium growth on biomass substrates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system combining mycelium (fungal biomass) with agricultural or forestry byproducts to form a new class of insulation materials that leverage the thermal insulation properties of both components while adding biodegradability and renewable characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If mycelium-based insulation materials are produced in cold environments, then local production and renewability are improved, but production speed and cost worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal production capabilityVSAvoidproduction speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selecting and cultivating temperature-resilient fungal strains adapted to cold climate conditions, allowing the mycelium to grow effectively in local cold environments rather than requiring controlled warm conditions, thus enabling local production while maintaining reasonable production speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses commercially viable fungal strains that have been optimized and standardized for industrial production, copying successful growth patterns and metabolic pathways to ensure consistent and efficient production in cold environments without requiring extensive research and development at each location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If conventional polymeric foams are shipped from manufacturing centers, then production efficiency is improved, but transportation cost and environmental impact worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidtransportation energy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the production system into localized manufacturing units that can produce insulation materials on-site or near construction sites using locally available biomass feedstocks, eliminating the need for long-distance transportation of finished products while maintaining production efficiency through standardized production processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention enables self-service production where each location can produce its own insulation materials using locally sourced agricultural or forestry byproducts as feedstock, making the production system self-sufficient and eliminating dependence on centralized manufacturing and long-distance shipping

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The biodegradable insulation materials provide efficient thermal insulation, are renewable and carbon-neutral, and can be produced cost-competitively, addressing environmental and health concerns while meeting the needs of cold climate infrastructure.

Implementation Method 1

biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold comprising a nutritive media for fungal mycelium and at least one temperature resilient fungus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

efficient thermal insulation material for cold climate regions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS20230365916A1Thermal Insulation Material from Mycelium and Forestry Byproducts

Publication Date: 2023.11.16 UNIV OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE

AI summary

Disclosed are biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold; and at least one temperature resilient fungus. Also disclosed are methods of making and using biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold; and at least one temperature resilient fungus. For example, disclosed are methods of insulating an infrastructure comprising administering the disclosed biodegradable insulation materials to an infrastructure.