This mycelium panel shows how organic residual flows such as sawdust, straw products, hemp shives and grasses can be the basis for various high-quality products. Depending on the processing, this panel can fulfill different functions: insulating material, fire-resistant plate (mycelium has a flame-extinguishing effect), acoustic panel or as a building plate/tile. The post-treatment determines what ultimately desired property of the material is achieved. For example, for insulation/sound purposes it is important that it has a low density and is lightweight. As a building panel, a high density is desirable and, above all, it must be strong. This can be done by heat pressing: the mycelium then acts as a strong adhesive bond, creating a very strong material.
In essence, any desired shape is conceivable and possible. It is also extremely suitable for producing composites.
Proces
We have developed this panel at Wageningen University & Research. It has beech sawdust as a basic raw material and is supplemented with a small percentage of flour and then moistened with water to the desired moisture percentage. After preparing the substrate, we give it a heat treatment to kill unwanted micro-organisms in the substrate. We then add a certain fungus, place it in the production mold, after which it can continue to grow completely in approximately 6-8 days.
The network formed by mycelium in the substrate creates a solid whole through which the panel can obtain its final solid shape. The ultimate intended applications and properties are almost endless.
What’s next
Next steps are creating a large air-conditioned production facility for the production of the composites with a processing area for the end product/semi-finished product. We are also looking for options for the mechanization for the processing of raw materials into a desired substrate mixture. Furthermore a processing area for drying and production of final product/semi-finished product would be a good next step.