Mycelium is the root structure of fungi, consisting of fine thread like filaments called hyphae, which grow within organic materials. It is collected from soil near bamboo roots by fermenting rice underground for five days, then mixed with sugarcane molasses to create a biological serum for fungal cultivation.
Structurally, mycelium contains chitin, a biological polymer with high tensile strength, enabling the hyphae to strongly bind with surrounding particles. Thanks to this characteristic, mycelium serves as a natural binder in the production of biological construction materials known as bio composites [1].
Illustrations at various scales show the structure of fungal hyphae:
(A) Mushroom structure, (B) Hyphae,
(C) Fungal cells, (D) Cell wall of a single hypha
Mycelium bricks are organic and biological bricks made from agricultural waste and mycelium, the fibrous root system of fungi. They thrive in moist, dark environments and can bind surrounding materials effectively.
The mycelium is cultivated from fungi in the Basidiomycota group and combined with the following substrates:
Rice bran (RB)
Sawdust (SD)
Coconut husk fiber (CH)
Sugarcane molasses (SCM) as the growth medium
The mixture is placed in molds and incubated for 25 days to allow the mycelium to develop. It is then baked at 110 to 115 degrees Celsius to stop further growth and stabilize the structure [2].
1.Harvesting Fungal Mycelium (Fig. a and b)
2. Preparing the Base Materials (Fig. c and d)
3. Molding and Incubation (Fig. e)
4. Drying and Curing (Fig. f)
RB, RBM, SD, and SDM bricks are dried at 110 to 115 degrees Celsius.
C and CM bricks are fired at 900 to 1100 degrees Celsius.
5. Mechanical Testing
Mycelium bricks are used for counter cladding, producing a soft translucent glow and striking textures. The material serves both aesthetic and lighting diffusion purposes in high end exhibitions or commercial environments.
Mycelium bricks are assembled into biologically inspired patterns to create artistic walls with LED backlighting. This application is ideal for creative offices, cafes, sustainable showrooms, or event venues.
Mycelium bricks are used to construct semi circular enclosures surrounding virtual reality users. Their lightweight, sound absorbing, and eco friendly nature makes them perfect for tech labs, meditation rooms, or interactive installations.
Mycelium bricks are utilized in large scale buildings with soft, organic forms. Their low weight and strong bonding capability allow for tall, aesthetically pleasing structures that remain environmentally conscious. The combination of biological materials and lighting results in striking green architecture suited to modern sustainable design trends [3].
Mycelium bricks are integrated with wood and fired bricks to create ventilated, semi permanent walls. This design is well suited for garden houses, pavilions, or open air natural spaces [4].
References
1] J. M. C. Ongpeng, E. I. Inciong, V. Sendo, C. Soliman, and A. Siggaoat, “Using waste in producing bio-composite mycelium bricks,” Applied Sciences, vol. 10, no. 15, p. 5303, Jul. 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/10/15/5303
[2] A. S. Kanagalakshmi and S. G. S., “Study on mycelium bricks,” Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research, vol. 8, no. 4, Apr. 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIRES06036.pdf
[3] Green Construction Board, “Mycelium-based materials: The future of sustainable construction.” [Online]. Available: https://www.greenconstructionboard.org/alternative-materials-mycelium-based-materials
[4] Ecovative Design, “We grow better materials,” Instagram. [Online]. Available: https://www.instagram.com/ecovative
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