A privacy apparatus includes one or more substantially cork panels. Each panel can be configured to provide visual and/or sound privacy for a certain work space. The panel can be supported on a floor via one or more base elements and/or may be reinforced in rigidity and/or strength via one or more supports. Some embodiments of the apparatus can include a first panel and a second panel attached together via one or more supports press fit within openings defined in rear faces of the panels.

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.

A composite wall panel having a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces extending therebetween is provided. The panel includes a cured composition of pieces of cellulose and/or chaff and at least one binder. A wall assembly is also provided. The assembly includes: a frame including a plurality of linearly arranged elongated studs having a top end, a bottom end, and a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side extending between the respective ends; a plurality of interconnected wall panels mounted to the first side of the elongated studs of the frame to form a first wall portion; a plurality of interconnected panels mounted to the second side of the elongated studs to form a second wall portion; and an insulating layer inserted within a cavity between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

The biodegradable composite insulation material is made from date palm leaf fibers and powdered okra. The date palm leaf fibers have a concentration of between 50 wt % and 90 wt % of the biodegradable composite insulation material, and the powdered okra has a concentration of between 10 wt % and 50 wt % of the biodegradable composite insulation material. The biodegradable composite insulation material is prepared by mixing date palm leaf fibers and powdered okra, in the above concentrations, to form a mixture. This mixture is then wetted with water, added to a mold, and heated under pressure to form a compressed article. The compressed article is then dried to form the biodegradable composite insulation material.

The process for producing mycelium biomaterial provides fresh oxygen to the growing mycelium biomaterial while removing waste heat and waste carbon dioxide by forced aeration through large volumes of material. In a first phase of fungal expansion, humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through a fungal inoculated substrate of discrete particles to allow the fungal inoculum to expand and dominate the substrate. Nutrient is added to the inoculated mixture and a second phase of fungal expansion is performed wherein humidified air at a programmed temperature is passed upwardly and through the nutrient enriched fungal inoculated substrate to allow the fungal inoculum to bond the discrete particles into a self-supporting biocomposite. The process and apparatus of the invention allows for the processing of grown materials bound by mycelium at depths of greater than 6″ and particularly in the range of from 24″ to 28″.

Chemically modified unpyrolyzed Poaceae fibres having a length of less than 200 mm advantageously comprised between 2 and 100 mm, such as between 2 and 10 mm, said fibres having a water content of less than 40% by weight, and being treated with a treating aqueous dispersion comprising less than 1% by weight of surface treating mixture comprising at least a silanol terminated polydimethylsiloxane, as well as an amino coupling agent.

The present invention relates to thermal insulation materials, particularly to environmentally friendly thermal insulation materials, manufacturing of which involves recycled raw materials and hemp fibres. The thermal insulation material described in the invention further comprises bi-component binder and conservation additive.

A method of bonding together surfaces of two or more elements. The method includes the steps of providing two or more elements, applying an adhesive to one or more of the surfaces to be bonded together before, during or after contacting the surfaces to be bonded together with each other, and curing the adhesive, wherein the adhesive comprises at least one hydrocolloid.

Disclosed is an insulation product comprising hemp fibres bonded together using one or more biopolymers. Hemp fibres having lengths of between 5 and 100 mm amount to at least 50% by weight of the product. A hemp containing insulating batt or board may be made from opened hemp fibres, opened biopolymer binder fibres, mixing to produce a mixture in which the components are dispersed, air-laying the mixture, heating to above the melting point of the biopolymer binder fibres, forming to a desired thickness or density; and cooling

A residential or commercial building, structure, or building component can include an exterior member, interior member, and plurality of cross-members spatially disposed therebetween. Each of the exterior member, interior member, cross-members can be formed from a multi-layered stack of polymeric material made by a layered three-dimensional printing process, and all can be monolithically integrated. An exterior surface region of the exterior member can have an integrally formed surface finish. Overlying finishing or connective layers can be added. The exterior and interior members can be configured in a parallel arrangement to form a rectangular or curve shaped building block. A fill material can be disposed into openings between the exterior and interior members, and an interior surface region at the interior member can include a cavity configured for an electrical box, plumbing, or a sensing device.