MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Fungal Mycelium Classified in Different Material Families Based on Glycerol Treatment

Summary

This research demonstrates how fungal mycelium can be transformed into different types of materials by treating it with varying concentrations of glycerol. The study shows that mycelium-based materials could serve as sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic materials. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides new sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and materials • Offers potential for biodegradable packaging and construction materials • Demonstrates how waste materials can be converted into valuable products • Creates possibilities for customizable bio-based materials with different properties • Contributes to reducing environmental impact through sustainable material production

Background

The use of bio-based materials is part of the transition towards a sustainable economy. Fungi have evolved as effective waste degraders in nature, which can be used to convert low-quality agricultural waste streams into bio-based materials. Pure and composite mycelium materials are distinguished, as well as materials derived from polymers of mycelium. Plasticizing agents like glycerol can reduce brittleness of films from bio-derived polysaccharides.

Objective

To investigate how treating mycelium films with different concentrations of glycerol impacts their material properties and classification within different material families.

Results

Treatment with glycerol significantly impacted the material properties of mycelium films. Untreated films had a Young’s modulus of 0.47 GPa, ultimate tensile strength of 5.0 MPa and strain at failure of 1.5%. Treatment with 32% glycerol decreased the Young’s modulus to 0.003 GPa and ultimate tensile strength to 1.8 MPa, while increasing strain at failure to 29.6%. Glycerol treatment also made the surface more hydrophilic and reduced water absorption by the hyphal matrix.

Conclusion

Mycelium films treated with different glycerol concentrations can be classified into distinct material families – untreated and 1-4% glycerol films behave as natural materials, 8% glycerol treatment produces polymer-like materials, and 16-32% glycerol treatment results in elastomer-like materials. This demonstrates the versatility of mycelium materials for different applications through simple glycerol treatment.
  • Published in:Communications Biology,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s42003-020-1064-4
Scroll to Top