The Sealants Team

On wood substrates, all oil-wax sealants produced a water contact angle of greater than 90 degrees, but less than 150 degrees, classifying it as hydrophobic. Agave-based sealants all produced a water contact angle of less than 90 degrees, classifying it as hydrophilic.

On wood substrates, all oil-wax sealants reduced the water contact angle loss over 150 seconds. Agave-based sealants from an old agave leaf (used 30 days after pruning) reduced water contact angle loss over 150 seconds, while agave-based sealants from a new agave leaf (used 1 day after pruning) increased water contact angle loss over 150 seconds.

Mycelium-based composites without an oil-wax sealant completely absorbed a 25-microliter water drop in less than 30 seconds. When coated, the complete absorption of a 25-microliter water drop is over 180 seconds, suggesting that the oil-wax sealant decreases the porosity of mycelium-based composites.

The complete water absorption of mycelium-based composites for 24 hours with and without an oil-wax sealant is highly varied. When the oil-wax sealant was applied, some species-substrates types absorbed less water and others absorbed more water compared to the unsealed samples.