Investigation of the effects of mycelium on metal and non-metal composites

• Main Author: Yong, Wei Neng
• Other Authors: Hortense Le Ferrand
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Engineering::Materials
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/165864
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Mycelium composites are still a relatively new and sustainable material that has gotten much attention due to their exceptional properties such as biodegradability, self-healing, and flame retardancy. Nevertheless, it has yet to overtake traditional material as it is still limited by design flexibility and mechanical properties for certain applications. Thus, this project attempts to explore another alternative to create a mycelium composite that could aid in closing the gaps of the limitations by researching the effects of growing mycelium on both metals (stainless steel, aluminum, and copper) and non-metals (polylactic acid and wood Polylactic acid) material using a novel agar-coating method to fabricate the mycelium composite. The results of the project illustrate a new possibility for utilizing mycelium to grow on different complex materials to obtain a composite that could be applied in architecture or marine conditions.