Fungi in Mycelium-Based Composites: Usage and Recommendations

Sydor, Maciej; Cofta, Grzegorz; Doczekalska, Beata; Bonenberg, Agata

doi:10.3390/ma15186283

Cited by 77 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…The potentially positive evaluation of the mycelium-based composite (MBC) among respondents will demonstrate that the continued development of the material in question could yield good commercialization results in the coming years (Sydor et al, 2022a(Sydor et al, , 2022b. Working with this and other biomaterials can lead to a paradigm shift in aesthetics in which the design mainstream has hitherto been de ned by high technology and highly sophisticated design and production methods, which will perhaps soon take on a more casual, nature-like form.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycelium material in interior design. Acceptance level amongst future users of new eco-aesthetics

Bonenberg

Sydor

Doczekalska

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) show great potential as a sustainable alternative to conventional biopolymers in the production of environmentally-friendly furniture and interior decor. While these innovative biocomposites have numerous ecological benefits, they pose a new challenge in aesthetics and consumer acceptance. Furniture made from mycelium and lignocellulosic substrates has a porous texture, uneven surface, and unpredictable coloring due to the natural growth patterns of mycelium. Although production methods can be improved and imperfections reduced, the inherent randomness of mycelium growth cannot be eliminated. These factors and the natural provenance of such materials can be a challenge in interior design. For these reasons, it is justified to measure the level of acceptance of such materials as objectively as possible. The article presents and justifies three complementary consumer tests suitable for MBC materials and product acceptance level measuring. The proposed set of consumer tests includes (1) an organoleptic evaluation of the material, using three senses simultaneously, (2) a product acceptance and desirability evaluation, and (3) comparative tests of products with the same function, dimensions, and shape, made of two different materials. The results of these tests are complementary and demonstrate to which extent products made of MBC are potentially acceptable to the public. All of these methods support current and future applications of MBC for manufacturing items where enhanced aesthetics are required.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycelium material in interior design. Acceptance level amongst future users of new eco-aesthetics

Bonenberg

Sydor

Doczekalska

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…The subject has gained interest in the past 5 years [ 5 ], with a strong increase of research in the area. Several authors have reviewed literature in the field [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Numerous studies have been directed to the possible use of such materials, especially in the construction sector for thermal insulation [ 14 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ], acoustic absorbers [ 21 , 22 , 23 ] or bricks [ 24 , 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycelium-Composite Materials—A Promising Alternative to Plastics?

Balaeş

Radu

Tănase

2023

JoF

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Plastic waste inefficiently recycled poses a major environmental concern attracting attention from both civil society and decision makers. Counteracting the phenomenon is an important challenge today. New possibilities are being explored to find alternatives to plastics, and one of them refers to mycelium-composite materials (MCM). Our study aimed at investigating the possibility of using wood and litter inhabiting basidiomycetes, an underexplored group of fungi that grow fast and create strong mycelial mats, to produce biodegradable materials with valuable properties, using cheap by-products as a substrate for growth. Seventy-five strains have been tested for their ability to grow on low-nutrient media and to form compact mycelial mats. Eight strains were selected further for evaluation on several raw substrates for producing in vitro myco-composites. The physico-mechanical properties of these materials, such as firmness, elasticity and impermeability, were analyzed. Abortiporus biennis RECOSOL73 was selected to obtain, at the laboratory scale, a real biodegradable product. Our results suggest that the strain used is a promising candidate with real possibilities for scalability. Finally, corroborating our results with scientific available data, discussions are being made over the feasibility of such technology, cost-effectiveness, scalability, availability of raw materials and, not least, where future studies should be directed to.

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“…The priority date of first patent on mycelium-based composites (MBCs) dates back to 2007 [ 4 ], while the scientific publications started in 2012 [ 5 ]. Since 2013, more than 30 review articles have been published describing various aspects of this type of material, including production [ 6 ], applications and properties [ 7 ], electronic applications [ 8 ], architecture applications [ 9 ], patents related to MBCs [ 10 ], furniture and art applications [ 11 ], a sustainable development [ 12 ], and proper selection of material-generating species of fungi [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycelium-Based Composite Materials: Study of Acceptance

et al. 2023

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Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are alternative biopolymers for designing sustainable furniture and other interior elements. These innovative biocomposites have many ecological advantages but present a new challenge in aesthetics and human product acceptance. Grown products, made using living mycelium and lignocellulosic substrates, are porous, have irregular surfaces and have irregular coloring. The natural origin of these types of materials and the fear of fungus can be a challenge. This research investigated the level of human acceptance of the new material. Respondents were students of architecture who can be considered as people involved in interior design and competent in the design field. Research has been performed on the authors’ prototype products made from MBCs. Three complementary consumer tests were performed. The obtained results measured the human reactions and demonstrated to which extents products made of MBCs were “likeable” and their nonobvious aesthetics were acceptable to the public. The results showed that MBC materials generally had a positive or not-negative assessment. The responses after the pairwise comparison of the MBC with wall cladding samples pointed out the advantage of ceramic reference material above the MBC based on an overall assessment. The respondents also believed that the chamotte clay cladding would be easier to fit into the aesthetics of a modern interior and would in better accordance with its style. Although the MBC was less visually appealing, the respondents nevertheless found it more interesting, original, and environmentally friendly. The experiments suggested that the respondents had double standards regarding MBCs. MBCs were generally accepted as ecological, but not in their own homes. All of these results support current and future applications of MBCs for manufacturing items where enhanced aesthetics are required.

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Fungi in Mycelium-Based Composites: Usage and Recommendations

Cited by 77 publications

References 106 publications

Mycelium material in interior design. Acceptance level amongst future users of new eco-aesthetics

Mycelium material in interior design. Acceptance level amongst future users of new eco-aesthetics

Mycelium-Composite Materials—A Promising Alternative to Plastics?

Mycelium-Based Composite Materials: Study of Acceptance

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