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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 sustainable materials by treating it with varying concentrations of glycerol. The study shows that mycelium-based materials could potentially replace traditional synthetic materials in many applications. Impacts on everyday life: • Provides new sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics and materials • Offers customizable material properties for different applications from packaging to textiles • Demonstrates potential for reducing environmental impact through biodegradable materials • Creates new opportunities for converting agricultural waste into valuable products • Advances development of eco-friendly manufacturing processes

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 material properties. The largest effects were observed with 32% glycerol, which decreased Young’s modulus from 0.47 GPa to 0.003 GPa and ultimate tensile strength from 5.0 MPa to 1.8 MPa, while increasing strain at failure from 1.5% to 29.6%. Glycerol treatment made the surface more hydrophilic and reduced water absorption by the hyphal matrix. Films treated with 8% glycerol classified as polymer-like materials, while 16-32% glycerol treatments produced elastomer-like materials.

Conclusion

Mycelium materials with different density, hydrophilicity and mechanical properties can be produced by treating pure mycelial films with glycerol. Increasing glycerol concentration changed material properties from paper-like, to leather-like, to rubber-like, demonstrating the wide potential applications of mycelium materials.
  • Published in:Communications Biology,
  • Study Type:Laboratory Research,
  • Source: 10.1038/s42003-020-1064-4
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