Physical and Mechanical Properties of Fungal Mycelium-Based Biofoam

Yang, Zhaohui; Zhang, Feng; Still, Benjamin; White, Maria; Amstislavski, Philippe

doi:10.1061/(asce)mt.1943-5533.0001866

Cited by 138 publications

(150 citation statements)

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“…The values of the thermal conductivity for HC and SC range within the same values as conventional insulating materials (Table 4) such as rock wool, glass fibres, sheep wool, cork. The results also show better thermal insulation properties compared to recent research on mycelium-based biofoams [12] with values between 0.05-0.07 W/ (m*K), and [26] with values between 0.078 and 0.081 W/ (m*K). This can be attributed to a different production protocol of the samples, species, different densities (180-380 kg/m 3 , and 51-62 kg/m 3 ), and a different fibre type (sawdust pulp of Alaska birch, and wheat straw).…”

Section: Thermal Conductivitysupporting

confidence: 46%

“…The geometry of the moulds depends from the type of test. As no standard testing procedure exists, different geometries were tested in a first iteration based on literature [12,14,16,17]. Eventually a diameter to height ratio of 2:1 was selected for compressive tests; the test samples have a diameter of 75 mm and a height of 37,5 mm (M1).…”

Section: Mouldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The average compressive strength of cotton down woven mat and hemp pitch woven and non-woven mat substrates varies between 0,67 to 1.18 MPa at 60% deformation in sample height [11]. Substrates containing not degraded natural fibres exhibit a strain-hardening behaviour because the natural fibres serve to reinforce and prevent shear failure [12]. The average flexural modulus is respectively 1 MPa, 3 MPa and 9 MPa for non-pressed cotton, rapeseed and beechwood based composites.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The packing method influences the thermal conductivity of mycelium-based composites. Loosely packed substrate has a low thermal conductivity of 0,05 W/(m · K), whereas densely packed substrate has a slightly higher thermal conductivity of 0,07 W/(m · K), due to less dry-air cavities [12]. The water absorption properties are reported to be high, between 298% and 350% [11].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanical, physical and chemical characterisation of mycelium-based composites with different types of lignocellulosic substrates

Elsacker

Vandelook

Brancart

et al. 2019

Preprint

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The current physical goods economy produces materials by extracting finite valuable resources without taking their end of the life and environmental impact into account. Modernity leaves us with devasted landscapes of depleted resources, waste landfill, queries, oil platforms. At the time of the Anthropocene, the various effects the human role has on the constitution of the soils create an acceleration of material entropy. It is the terrestrial entanglement of fungal materials that we investigate in this paper by offering an alternative fabrication paradigm based on the growth of resources rather than on extraction. Unlike the latter, biologically augmented building materials can be grown by combining micro-organisms such as fungal mycelium with agricultural plant-based waste. In this study, we investigate the production process, the mechanical, hygrothermal and chemical properties of mycelium-based composites with different types of lignocellulosic reinforcement fibres combined with a white rot fungus, Trametes versicolor. Together, they form an interwoven three-dimensional filamentous network binding the feedstock into a lightweight material. The mycelium-based material is heat-killed after the growing process. This is the first study reporting the dry density, the Young's modulus, the compressive stiffness, the stress-strain curves, the thermal conductivity, the water absorption rate and a complete FTIR analyse of mycelium-based composites by making use of a disclosed protocol with T. versicolor and five different type of fibres (hemp, flax, flax waste, softwood, straw) and fibre conditions (loose, chopped, dust, pre-compressed and tow). These experimental results show that mycelium-composites can fulfil the requirements of thermal insulation. The thermal conductivity and water absorption coefficient of the mycelium composites with flax, hemp, and straw have an overall good insulation behaviour in all the aspects compared to conventional unsustainable materials. The conducted tests reveal that the mechanical performances of the mycelium-based composites depend more on the fibre condition, size, and processing than on the chemical composition of the fibres. Graphical abstractHighlights  The type of fibre influences the colonisation of mycelium: samples containing flax, hemp, straw and flax-waste resulted in a well-developed composite  The type of fibre has a smaller influence on the compressive stiffness than the fibre processing and size.  Pre-compression and chopped fibres (particle size <5mm) improve the compressive mechanical properties of mycelium composites.  The thermal conductivity and water absorption coefficient of the mycelium composites with flax, hemp, and straw have an overall good insulation behaviour in all the aspects compared to conventional unsustainable materials. Wordcount: 8152 3 2018, Earth's annual resources budget has been consumed in just 7 months by human activity [6]. Our industrial society consume more natural resources than nature can regenerate by overfishing, overharvesting o...

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Section: Thermal Conductivitysupporting

confidence: 46%

Section: Mouldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mechanical, physical and chemical characterisation of mycelium-based composites with different types of lignocellulosic substrates

Elsacker

Vandelook

Brancart

et al. 2019

Preprint

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show abstract

“…Studies into their functional performance-as insulation materials-are limited, and the results vary, depending on fungal species and fiber substrate. Therefore, more tests-and consistent testing methods-are required before solid claims can be made [89,90]. However, the outlook is promising regarding intrinsic fire retarding, thermal, and acoustic properties, and excellent life-cycle performance: Multiple locally sourced feedstocks can be applied, energy requirements are low, and at the end of its service-life, mycelium-based material is fully biodegradable [89].…”

Section: Insulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circular and Flexible Indoor Partitioning—A Design Conceptualization of Innovative Materials and Value Chains

2019

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This article sheds light on the materialization and operation of residential partitioning wall components in relation to circular and flexible performance. The hypothesis is twofold: (1) A stronger integration of materialization and operation aspects is indispensable in establishing sustainable value-models, and (2) recent innovations, concerning the reversibility of material connections, will help disrupting the status-quo in that respect. Attention is drawn to renewable natural fibre composites (NFC), reversible adhesives, and biodegradable insulation materials. After a background sketch regarding the notion of time, change, and material circularity in design and planning, the housing challenge in the Amsterdam metropolitan area (AMA, the Netherlands) is described. Next, a design conceptualization stage is introduced, informed by two methods and tools in particular: Circ-Flex assessment, and activity-based spatial material flow analysis. Results of the conceptualization stage are presented regarding materialization and operation, culminating in Circ-Flex partitioning components, more specifically: Side panels and insulation. It was found that NFC can tackle current issues relating, most prominently, to circularity performance. Associated modifications in the value-chain occur, above all, in raw material sourcing, manufacturing, reutilization logistics, and data-sharing. The outcomes are valid for multiple building components other than indoor partitioning, such as kitchens and furniture, but also insulation—and interior side-sheeting—of walls and roofs in energy-renovations.

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