Also: fungal mycelium, mycelium-based composites (MBC)
Mycelium is the thread-like root network of fungi. Researchers grow it through loose agricultural waste so it binds the particles into a solid, then dry or heat it to stop growth. They also grow pure mycelium sheets with no filler. The entries below summarise what studies have reported; they are not product claims.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Researchers grew mycelium panels on several agricultural by-products and measured how well they absorb sound.
Built / tested: acoustic absorber samples
As reported in: Pelletier, Holt, Wanjura et al. (2013). An evaluation study of mycelium based acoustic absorbers grown on agricultural by-product substrates. Industrial Crops and Products. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.09.008
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Studies how pure mycelium and mycelium–biomass composites break down under heat and behave in fire tests, relevant to building use.
Built / tested: fire-test specimens
As reported in: Jones, Bhat, Kandare et al. (2018). Thermal Degradation and Fire Properties of Fungal Mycelium and Mycelium - Biomass Composite Materials. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-36032-9
Describes growing brick-shaped mycelium blocks and testing them as an insulating building material.
Built / tested: grown mycelium brick samples
As reported in: Xing, Brewer, El-Gharabawy et al. (2018). Growing and testing mycelium bricks as building insulation materials. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. doi:10.1088/1755-1315/121/2/022032
Reviews how mycelium composites have been used in design and architecture, and runs experiments comparing composites produced in different ways as alternatives to synthetic foams.
Built / tested: mycelium composite test samples
As reported in: Attias, Danai, Abitbol et al. (2020). Mycelium bio-composites in industrial design and architecture: Comparative review and experimental analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119037
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Grown fungal skin was explored as a flexible, biodegradable base layer for electronic circuits ("MycelioTronics").
Built / tested: flexible circuit substrates, demonstration electronics
As reported in: Danninger, Pruckner, Holzinger et al. (2022). MycelioTronics: Fungal mycelium skin for sustainable electronics. Science Advances. doi:10.1126/sciadv.add7118
Uses leftover substrate from mushroom farming plus sawdust as the feedstock for mycelium-bound thermal insulation boards.
Built / tested: insulation board samples
As reported in: Schritt, Vidi, Pleissner (2021). Spent mushroom substrate and sawdust to produce mycelium-based thermal insulation composites. Journal of Cleaner Production. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127910
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Investigates keeping pure mycelium materials alive so that they can regrow and repair damage.
Built / tested: living material samples
As reported in: Elsacker, Zhang, Dade‐Robertson (2023). Fungal Engineered Living Materials: The Viability of Pure Mycelium Materials with Self‐Healing Functionalities. Advanced Functional Materials. doi:10.1002/adfm.202301875
Shows how changing growth and processing conditions alters the physical properties of mycelium-based materials.
Built / tested: test materials
As reported in: Haneef, Ceseracciu, Canale et al. (2017). Advanced Materials From Fungal Mycelium: Fabrication and Tuning of Physical Properties. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/srep41292
As reported in this study, blends of cotton plant waste bound by fungal growth were evaluated as a moulded, biodegradable packaging material.
Built / tested: moulded packaging test pieces
As reported in: Holt, Mcintyre, Flagg et al. (2012). Fungal Mycelium and Cotton Plant Materials in the Manufacture of Biodegradable Molded Packaging Material: Evaluation Study of Select Blends of Cotton Byproducts. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy. doi:10.1166/jbmb.2012.1241
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A life-cycle assessment comparing shipping-box inserts made from expanded polystyrene with inserts made from a hemp and mycelium composite.
Built / tested: packaging box inserts
As reported in: Enarevba, Haapala (2023). A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Expanded Polystyrene and Mycelium Packaging Box Inserts. Procedia CIRP. doi:10.1016/j.procir.2023.02.110
Reports a process for growing and treating mycelium mats from brown-rot fungi into a leather-like sheet material.
Built / tested: leather-alternative sheets
As reported in: Raman, Kim, Kim et al. (2022). Mycofabrication of Mycelium-Based Leather from Brown-Rot Fungi. Journal of Fungi. doi:10.3390/jof8030317