Fraunhofer team 3D prints fungus-based sound proofing
Fungus-based materials are being investigated by researchers in Germany for the fabrication of eco-friendly sound absorbers.
According to the Fraunhofer Institute, soundproofing panels used in walls or room fittings are made of mineral fibres or synthetic foams that are not sustainable or easily recycled. In a bid to bring to market an eco-friendlier and more effective alternative, Fraunhofer UMSICHT is working with Fraunhofer IBP to develop more sustainable sound-absorbing materials.
“There’s currently a focus on vegetal substrates and mycelium for the development of new materials,” said Julia Krayer, project manager at Fraunhofer UMSICHT in Oberhausen. Mycelium consists of a network of filament-like hyphae which grow underground and can span over a square kilometre.
For this project, Krayer and colleagues are growing hyphae in a lab. This mycelium is mixed with a vegetal substrate consisting of straw, wood, and waste from food production, and then printed into the desired shape with a 3D printer that enables the creation of a predefined porous structure within the absorber.
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