composite materials – mycolab.ai

BioKnit: development of mycelium paste for use with permanent textile formwork

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Researchers developed a new type of injectable mycelium paste combined with knitted fabric formwork to create lightweight, sustainable building materials. The BioKnit prototype demonstrates that this approach can produce large, complex structures like an arched dome using fungal material instead of traditional construction materials. The textile framework dramatically strengthens the mycelium composite while keeping the material environmentally friendly and relatively easy to produce.

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

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This research explores how mushroom mycelium (fungal threads) can be grown with wheat grains to create fire-resistant composite materials. The study found that these mycelium-based composites are significantly safer than plastic polymers, catching fire less easily and releasing less heat when burned. The mycelium acts like a natural fire shield by forming a protective char layer. These findings suggest mycelium composites could be a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic plastics for packaging and insulation applications.

Properties of Sound Absorption Composite Materials Developed Using Flax Fiber, Sphagnum Moss, Vermiculite, and Sapropel

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Researchers created new environmentally friendly sound-absorbing panels using lake sediment (sapropel) as a binder mixed with natural fibers and minerals. These composite materials work well for reducing noise in buildings and have a decorative natural appearance. However, because they contain organic materials, they are susceptible to mold growth and need antimicrobial protection, with materials containing vermiculite performing better than those with moss.

Biobased Materials from Microbial Biomass and Its Derivatives

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This review explores how scientists are creating environmentally friendly materials using microorganisms like yeast, fungi, and bacteria instead of petroleum. These microbial-based materials can form flexible films suitable for food packaging and other applications. They are biodegradable, renewable, and can even be made from waste products generated by brewing and other industries. This approach offers a sustainable solution to plastic pollution while supporting a circular economy.

Patent landscape analysis for materials based on fungal mycelium: a guidance report on how to interpret the current patent situation

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This report analyzes patents protecting mycelium-based materials that could replace plastic and petroleum products in construction, packaging, and insulation. Researchers found 73 existing patents and 34 applications, mostly owned by three US companies, with concerns that overly broad patent protections may be slowing innovation in this promising sustainable materials field. The findings suggest that while mycelium materials show tremendous potential as eco-friendly alternatives, patent restrictions need better management to accelerate their development and commercialization.

Living Kombucha Electronics with Proteinoids

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Scientists created a new material by combining Kombucha cellulose with synthetic proteinoids (protein-like structures made from amino acids) to produce living electronics that can sense and process information. This hybrid material exhibits unusual electrical properties, including the ability to perform logic operations like computer circuits. The proportions of each component can be adjusted to customize the electrical behavior, opening possibilities for wearable technology and brain-inspired computing devices.

Extrusion-based additive manufacturing of fungal-based composite materials using the tinder fungus Fomes fomentarius

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Scientists have developed a way to 3D print objects using mushroom mycelium (the thread-like structure of fungi) mixed with seaweed-derived alginate. These lightweight, spongy printed objects are biodegradable and have properties similar to polystyrene foam, but are made from renewable resources. This breakthrough could eventually replace plastic foam in packaging and other applications with an eco-friendly fungal alternative.

Characterization of Self-Growing Biomaterials Made of Fungal Mycelium and Various Lignocellulose-Containing Ingredients

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Scientists developed environmentally-friendly foam-like materials by growing mushroom mycelium (the root-like network of fungi) on agricultural waste like hemp and sawdust. These natural composites are strong, biodegradable, and can be used for packaging or insulation instead of plastic foam. However, they absorb water easily and can develop mold if exposed to moisture, so they need protective coatings for some applications.

A pH-sensitive film based on chitosan/gelatin and anthocyanin from Zingiber striolatum Diels for monitoring fish freshness

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Researchers developed a smart packaging film that changes color to show whether fish is fresh or spoiled. The film combines chitosan and gelatin with a natural purple dye from Zingiber striolatum plants, creating an intelligent label that shifts from deep purple to brown as the fish deteriorates. This color change accurately reflects the fish’s pH and ammonia levels, allowing consumers to visually determine freshness without opening the package.

Sodium Alginate Modifications: A Critical Review of Current Strategies and Emerging Applications

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Sodium alginate is a natural substance from seaweed that is safe to eat and widely used in foods, medicines, and environmental cleanup. Scientists have developed various ways to modify sodium alginate to make it stronger, more stable, and better at specific jobs like delivering medicines or creating edible packaging. This review explains both the gentle, food-safe ways to modify alginate for food products and stronger chemical methods used for medical and environmental applications. The modifications allow alginate to work better in areas like wound healing, removing pollutants from water, and protecting food freshness.

Research Keyword: composite materials