Study on Polymer Mycelium Composite Coating for Capillary Action Prevention in Buildings

Abstract

Capillary rise of water through porous concrete and masonry materials is a major cause of dampness, deterioration, and reduction in service life of buildings. This study presents the development and performance evaluation of a sustainable polymer–mycelium composite coating intended to prevent capillary action in building components. The composite coating was developed using oyster mushroom mycelium as a bio-based filler, chicken feather fibers as reinforcement, and polymeric additives such as polyvinyl alcohol, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone emulsion, acrylic polymer, and polyurethane to enhance adhesion, hydrophobicity, flexibility, and durability. Experimental investigations were carried out on concrete specimens to assess water absorption, surface wettability, adhesion strength, skid resistance, and fungal resistance. In addition, a numerical simulation study was conducted using ANSYS software to analyze capillary water transport in concrete and to validate the experimental findings. The results indicate that the developed polymer–mycelium composite coating significantly reduces water ingress and improves resistance to capillary action, demonstrating its potential as an eco-friendly and effective moisture-protection solution for buildings.