Comparative evaluation of Mycelium-based acoustics under different growth conditions and binding solutions

Abstract

This study reviews and compares three significant research works on mycelium-based acoustic composites, highlighting their potential as sustainable alternatives to conventional sound-absorbing materials. Mycelium composites are produced by growing fungal mycelium on agricultural or paper waste, forming lightweight, porous structures that effectively absorb sound while supporting circular economy principles through biodegradability and waste valorization.
The first study demonstrated that shredded cardboard substrates combined with Pleurotus ostreatus fungi yield composites with strong structural integrity and sound absorption coefficients up to 0.9 across mid-to-high frequencies. The second research employed Ganoderma lucidum-grown composites molded via 3D-printed perforated molds incorporating Helmholtz resonator designs, achieving broadband absorption and peak coefficients near 1.0 at low-to-mid frequencies (~1200 Hz). The third explored scalable parametric design methods to fabricate panels from straw-based substrates, emphasizing aesthetic customization alongside acoustic performance.
Together, these findings show that substrate choice, fungal species, growth conditions, and fabrication techniques crucially affect acoustic efficiency, mechanical properties, and scalability. Optimized mycelium panels can match or approach the acoustic performance of synthetic panels in key frequency bands while offering environmental benefits such as lower embodied energy and compostability. Incorporating advanced digital fabrication enables tuning of material structure and form for interior applications like gaming office acoustics. This research supports the development of customizable, eco-friendly, and high-performance mycelium acoustic panels, promoting their adoption in sustainable commercial interior design.

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