A Study on Applicability of Bamboo Fibre Reinforced Mycelium Bonded Sawdust Material for Partition Wall

Abstract

In building construction there is a need of alternative materials which are low cost, high efficiency and environmentally responsible. This research presents an innovative solution for partition walls. The solution is produced by using sawdust, mycelium and other ingredients which are normally used in mushroom cultivation. In this material the mycelium acts as a natural glue to bind sawdust particles. Also bamboo fibre was introduced to increase the strength of the innovative material. The panel making process was done by four steps as preparing mixture, preparing mould to grow mycelium, getting mushroom cultivation and compressing and drying the panel. To find the standard of the properties of the material, compression strength parallel to surface and water absorption tests were done by using the test specimens of the new material. All the tests were conducted according to the ASTM D 1037 (1978) standard to keep the test results at a standard level. The compression strength test showed that the optimum amount of bamboo fibre proportion in order to get the maximum compressive strength. Other than that ultimate compressive strength, yield strength, density, specific strength and Young’s modulus were calculated too. The properties of new material were compared with Gypsum and MDF panels to find the position in the market. In this process mushroom is harvested as a by-product which leads to make a link between food industry and construction industry. This material fulfils the requirements of partition walls and can be applied as a green solution in partition wall construction.