Mycelium-Based Composites in Art, Architecture, and Interior Design: A Review.

Maciej Sydor,Beata Doczekalska,Grzegorz Cofta,Agata Bonenberg

doi:10.3390/polym14010145

Abstract

Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have attracted growing attention due to their role in the development of eco-design methods. We concurrently analysed scientific publications, patent documents, and results of our own feasibility studies to identify the current design issues and technologies used. A literature inquiry in scientific and patent databases (WoS, Scopus, The Lens, Google Patents) pointed to 92 scientific publications and 212 patent documents. As a part of our own technological experiments, we have created several prototype products used in architectural interior design. Following the synthesis, these sources of knowledge can be concluded: 1. MBCs are inexpensive in production, ecological, and offer a high artistic value. Their weaknesses are insufficient load capacity, unfavourable water affinity, and unknown reliability. 2. The scientific literature shows that the material parameters of MBCs can be adjusted to certain needs, but there are almost infinite combinations: properties of the input biomaterials, characteristics of the fungi species, and possible parameters during the growth and subsequent processing of the MBCs. 3. The patent documents show the need for development: an effective method to increase the density and the search for technologies to obtain a more homogeneous internal structure of the composite material. 4. Our own experiments with the production of various everyday objects indicate that some disadvantages of MBCs can be considered advantages. Such an unexpected advantage is the interesting surface texture resulting from the natural inhomogeneity of the internal structure of MBCs, which can be controlled to some extent.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilFungi can use many types of by-products as substrates for growth
The mycelium growth pattern is related to the availability of food resources, water and environmental conditions, which constantly modify the network topology
The main aim of the article is to synthesize information from the scientific literature, patent documents, and own experience to identify barriers and possibilities for an effective implementation of mycelium-based composites in industrial manufacturing, especially when applied to decorative objects used in architectural interior design of apartments

Summary

Introduction

Fungi can use many types of by-products as substrates for growth. When mycelium penetrates a substrate, it acts as a natural self-assembling binder, holding a loose mixture in a monolithic form, creating a solid composite of biopolymers cellulose matrix and very dense chitin reinforcement. The mycelium growth pattern is related to the availability of food resources, water and environmental conditions, which constantly modify the network topology. The adaptive behaviour of fungi allows them to cope with various ephemeral resources, competition, damage, and predation in a completely different manner from multicellular plants or animals [2]. The organic matter for fungal growth comes from the remains of plant and animal organisms and their metabolites. Various types of biological post-consumer wastes and by-products iations

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