MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Development and characterization of novelly grown fire-resistant fungal fibers

Summary

Scientists developed fire-resistant fibers from fungal mycelium grown with silica, offering a natural alternative to synthetic plastic fibers used in concrete. These fungal fibers burn more slowly, retain more material after heating, and create protective char layers that help prevent concrete spalling during fires. The new fibers are more environmentally friendly, cheaper to produce, and significantly outperform traditional polypropylene fibers in fire-resistant applications.

Background

Concrete structures are susceptible to spalling when exposed to fire due to vapor pressure accumulation. Commercial synthetic fibers like polypropylene (PP) are used to reinforce concrete but degrade rapidly at high temperatures, losing their mechanical strength and bridging ability. There is a need for alternative natural fibers with superior fire resistance and lower environmental impact.

Objective

To comprehensively characterize and analyze the fire-resistant properties of fungal fibers grown with silica (Si) source at multiple scales and compare their performance with conventional polypropylene fibers used in concrete reinforcement.

Results

Fungal fibers grown with 2% silica source demonstrated 23.21% increase in residual weight, 200.50°C ignition temperature (vs 193.62°C for PP), and 23.66 W/g decrease in peak heat release rate compared to controls. At 800°C, fungal fibers retained 31.94-59.20% residual weight versus only 0.20% for PP fibers. Silica source formed Si-O-C chemical bonds within fungal fiber structure, creating denser char layers that blocked fuel vapor release.

Conclusion

Fungal fibers grown with silica source exhibit significantly superior fire resistance compared to polypropylene fibers, including lower thermal degradation rates, higher residual weights, and reduced heat release. These naturally-grown fibers show promise as sustainable alternatives for fiber-reinforced concrete applications where improved fire resistance and spalling mitigation are critical design requirements.
  • Published in:Scientific Reports,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 35760942, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14806-6
Scroll to Top