Thermal Degradation and Fire Properties of Fungal Mycelium and Mycelium – Biomass Composite Materials

Author: mycolabadmin
2018-12-04
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Summary

This research investigated how mushroom-based materials (mycelium) perform when exposed to heat and fire. The study found that these natural materials are actually more fire-resistant than many common plastics, making them a promising sustainable alternative for various applications. Impact on everyday life: – Could lead to safer, more environmentally friendly packaging materials – May improve fire safety in building insulation materials – Offers a natural alternative to synthetic flame-retardant chemicals – Could reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing processes – Provides new opportunities for sustainable product development

Background

Mycelium and mycelium-biomass composites are emerging as new sustainable materials with potential flame-retardant properties. These materials are currently being used in non-structural applications like packaging and insulation. While the mechanical properties are inferior to conventional engineered composites, advanced processing techniques have enabled their use in semi-structural applications. However, very little is known about their thermal degradation and fire properties, which is critical for meeting fire safety regulations.

Objective

To investigate and characterize the thermal degradation properties, fire reaction properties, and subsequent changes in morphological and chemical structure of mycelium and mycelium-wheat grain composites. The study aimed to provide new understanding and quantitative data on the fire safety of these materials.

Results

The thermal degradation occurred in three distinct stages, with approximately 23% char residue remaining at 600°C. The fibrous network structure was retained after pyrolysis with a 10-30% reduction in hyphal diameter. Mycelium showed significantly lower peak heat release rate (67 W/g) and total heat release (6.8 kJ/g) compared to common polymers like PMMA and PLA. The presence of mycelium improved fire reaction properties of wheat grain composites, though growth time beyond 6 days showed no significant additional improvements.

Conclusion

Mycelium demonstrates superior fire reaction properties compared to competing thermoplastic polymers due to its higher char yield formation. It possesses inherent flame-retardant properties including high char residue and water vapor release. The material could serve as an economical, sustainable, and fire-safer alternative to synthetic polymers for binding matrices.

Published in:Scientific Reports,
Study Type:Laboratory Research,
Source: 10.1038/s41598-018-36032-9