Scientists have made a groundbreaking advancement in the construction industry by harnessing the power of fungi to grow environmentally friendly building materials. This innovative process involves utilizing knitted molds and the root network of fungi, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to foam, timber, and plastic.
Due to the constraints of organic materials in terms of structure and growth, prior attempts to build comparable composites ran into difficulties. The Living Textiles Research Group at Newcastle University, which is a component of the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment and is supported by Research England, has managed to overcome these limitations.
By using knitted molds as flexible formwork, the researchers produced a composite known as “mycocrete.” Comparing this composite to other experiments using organic components, it shows higher strength and plasticity in terms of shape and form.
Dr. Jane Scott, corresponding author of the paper published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, explained, “Our ambition is to transform the look, feel, and wellbeing of architectural spaces using mycelium in combination with biobased materials such as wool, sawdust, and cellulose.”
The manufacturing process for these mycelium composites utilises a technique that provides a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to foam, timber, and plastic. The researchers addressed the challenge of mycelium’s requirement for oxygen by using knitted textiles as oxygen-permeable molds. These molds can transition from flexible to stiff as the mycelium grows.
“Knitting is an incredibly versatile 3D manufacturing system,” said Dr. Scott. “It is lightweight, flexible, and formable. The major advantage of knitting technology compared to other textile processes is the ability to knit 3D structures and forms with no seams and no waste.”
The researchers created a paste that could be pumped into the knitted formwork using a special cannon to manufacture the mycocrete, ensuring uniform packing. To maintain its shape without becoming excessively liquid, the paste required to have the proper viscosity.
When compared to traditional mycelium composites and those grown without knitted formwork, the mycocrete samples tested for strength performed better. A proof-of-concept prototype structure dubbed BioKnit was also built by the researchers; it is a complicated freestanding dome that has no join-related weak areas because of the flexible knitted form.
Dr. Scott highlighted the significance of the mechanical performance of mycocrete in combination with permanent knitted formwork, stating, “This is a significant result and a step towards the use of mycelium and textile biohybrids within construction.” She also emphasized the potential for further adaptation and application of this formulation for different construction needs, potentially requiring advancements in machine technology to integrate textiles into the sector.
The construction industry now has exciting new options thanks to this ground-breaking study, which has paved the path for environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials that potentially transform interior design while lowering environmental effect.