While Sargablocks meet Mexican federal regulations for construction and MDF boards meet international standards, limited real-world long-term performance data exists for most seaweed-based construction materials, restricting widespread adoption. For example, there are no detailed studies on the properties of the blocks made out of Sargacreto (Miranda et al., 2021).
| Performance Metric | Sargassum-based adobe blocks | MDF Boards (Seaweed-Fiber Composites) |
| Mechanical Strength (Load-Bearing) | Sargablocks: Up to 120-year durability. Meets Mexican federal regulations. (López Miranda et al., 2021). |
50% sawdust + 50% K. alvarezii + 12% adhesive meets JIS A 5905:2003. (Albright & Fujita, 2023) |
| Hygrothermal performance/Water resistance | Increasing sargassum fiber content in earthen materials is shown to increase water vapor permeability (material’s ability to let water vapor pass through it) reducing surface water condensation and mildew formation (Affan et al., 2023).
Incorporation of whole seaweeds can cause degradation in humid environments, so it is best for interior use without additional treatments. (The World Bank Group, Global Seaweed New and Emerging Markets Report, 2023).
|
Seaweed- based particle boards absorbed more water than wood plastic composites and starch-based particleboards. This increased absorption could adversely impact mechanical strength. (Liew et al., 2022).
|
Table 5: Performance metrics for seaweed-based construction products
In addition, companies are exploring products that use the fire-retardant properties of biopolymers in seaweed. Seaweed inclusion can also reduce thermal conductivity, making its use attractive in insulation for homes (Affan et al., 2023).