Thermal Insulation Material from Mycelium and Forestry Byproducts

Abstract

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.

1 . A biodegradable insulation material comprising
 a. a structural scaffold comprising a three-dimensional structure and a mycelium from a first temperature resilient fungus, wherein the mycelium form the first temperature resilient fungus has colonized the three-dimensional structure, wherein the structural scaffold has a chitinous hydrophobic outer skin; and   b. a substrate comprising nutritive media and a mycelium from a second temperature resilient fungus, wherein the mycelium from the second temperature resilient fungus has colonized the substrate;   wherein the biodegradable insulation material is the result of the structural scaffold and substrate fusing together,   wherein the first temperature resilient fungus and second temperature resilient fungus are the same.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural scaffold comprises a biomass. 
     
     
         4 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 3 , wherein the biomass is pasteurized 
     
     
         5 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural scaffold comprises a biomass feedstock. 
     
     
         6 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural scaffold comprises a structural reinforcement. 
     
     
         7 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the biodegradable insulation material comprises the net shape of an object to be insulated. 
     
     
         8 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 7 , wherein the biodegradable insulation material comprises the net shape of a cylinder, tube, circle, oval, rectangle, or square. 
     
     
         9 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural scaffold comprises the net shape of the object to be insulated. 
     
     
         10 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the structural scaffold comprises a biopolymer or synthetic polymer that is non-toxic to the fungus and withstands moisture and humidity. 
     
     
         11 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 10 , wherein the biopolymer is a cellulose-based biopolymer filament. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second temperature resilient fungus is a fungus that remains biologically viable within a temperature range of +30° to −50° C. 
     
     
         15 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second temperature resilient fungus is a saprotrophic Basidiomycete. 
     
     
         16 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 15 , wherein the saprotrophic Basidiomycete is a polypore. 
     
     
         17 . The biodegradable insulation material of  claim 16 , wherein the polypore is  Irpex lacteus.    
     
     
         18 . A method for producing a biodegradable insulation material comprising
 a. preparing a structural scaffold comprising a three-dimensional structure;   b. inoculating the structural scaffold with a first temperature resilient fungus, wherein mycelium of the temperature resilient fungus colonize the scaffold   c. preparing a substrate comprising nutritive media,   d. inoculating the substrate with a second temperature resilient fungus, wherein mycelium of the second temperature resilient fungus colonize the substrate; and   e. allowing the mycelium of the first temperature resilient fungus and the second temperature resilient fungus to fuse forming a biodegradable insulation material.   
     
     
         19 .- 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A method of insulating an infrastructure comprising introducing the biodegradable insulation material of  claim 1  to an infrastructure. 
     
     
         46 .- 48 . (canceled)