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Tailoring the Mechanical Properties of Fungal Mycelium Mats with Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing of PHBH and PLA Biopolymers

Summary

Researchers have developed a novel method to make mushroom-based materials stronger by coating them with biodegradable plastics using 3D printing technology. This approach combines fungal mycelium from Fomes fomentarius with eco-friendly polymers to create composites that are significantly stronger than plain mycelium while remaining fully compostable. The resulting materials could be used for flexible devices, interior design, and other applications where both strength and environmental sustainability are important.

Background

Fungal mycelium-based materials are emerging sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based and animal-derived products due to their biodegradability, low carbon footprint, and cruelty-free nature. Pure fungal mycelium products have inherently limited mechanical properties, necessitating post-processing methods to improve their tensile strength and durability for practical applications.

Objective

This study presents a novel approach to enhance and tailor the mechanical properties of fungal mycelium mats by depositing defined patterns of bio-based and biodegradable polymers using material extrusion additive manufacturing (3D printing). The goal is to create fungal mycelium-biopolymer composites with improved mechanical characteristics while maintaining biodegradability.

Results

PLA-treated mycelium composites (M-PLA) demonstrated approximately 4.8-fold higher ultimate tensile strength and 30-fold higher Young’s modulus compared to pure mycelium mats. M-PHBH composites showed intermediate improvements with 2.8-fold higher ultimate tensile strength. Both composites showed reduced elasticity but significantly improved mechanical stability suitable for load-bearing applications.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that material extrusion additive manufacturing can effectively reinforce fungal mycelium mats with biopolymer coatings, offering a promising pathway for developing durable and sustainable materials. Further optimization of adhesion between polymers and mycelium through improved printing parameters and pretreatment methods could enhance composite performance for applications in flexible devices and interior design.
  • Published in:ACS Omega,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1021/acsomega.4c07661
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