Greensulate

Greensulate is the former name of a renewable and biodegradable material that can be used for thermal insulation, fire insulation and also as a substitute for styrofoam and other plastics used in packaging and other applications supplied by Ecovative Design.[1][2][3]

History

The creators of Greensulate, Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre, met at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where they developed cultures of mushrooms and studying their proprieties as insulators.[4][5] After promising results they formed Ecovative Design and started commercialising this product before switching focus to use of the materials as protective packaging.

The first trial of Greensulate is being conducted at a Vermont school gym in May 2009.[1] The company subsequently dropped the Greensulate name and switched focus to the manufacture of protective packaging before In 2013 the announced plans to produce products for the building construction industry but has yet to release any commercial products.

Technology

Greensulate is made of common and generally cheap agricultural by-products of rice, buckwheat and cottonseed. The mix is used as a base for the growth of the oyster mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus. Fungal cells are added to the mixture after the addition of hydrogen peroxide to inhibit the growth of undesired fungi or plants. The whole is put into the desired molds then put in a dark environment, permitting growth of a fungal mycelial network to bind the mixture. It is then dried to prevent further fungal growth, thus preventing moss or fungus allergy due to exposure to the product.[4][6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jeremy Hsu (May 2009). "Invention Awards: Eco-Friendly Insulation Made From Mushrooms". Popular science.
  2. ↑ Heimbuch, Jaymi (2008-05-30). "Greensulate: building industry warms up to mushrooms". Ecogeek.org. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  3. ↑ Binder, Libuse (2009-05-11). "Ecovative Design: Making Magic Out of Mushrooms". Earth 911. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Environmentally Friendly Organic Insulation Uses Mushroom Spores". Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 2007-05-07. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  5. ↑ Amber Cleveland (2007-05-04). "Commencement 2007: Graduate Develops “Growable” Solution to Energy Issues". Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  6. ↑ Boch, Adam (2008-05-28). "Staying Cool: Green insulation gets warm reception". Scientific American. Retrieved 2009-11-28.

External links

[fa: عایق سبز]