The urgent need to mitigate environmental impacts has prompted a transition from a linear to a circular economy. In this context, developing composite materials derived from renewable resources and sustainable technologies has emerged as a viable strategy to support this transition. Among these materials, mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have received significant attention due to their potential to transform low-cost organic wastes into environmentally friendly, polymer-grade foams that are lightweight and biodegradable. Despite their promise, conventional moulding techniques limit the design potential of MBCs, restricting their range of applications. To address this limitation and achieve greater design flexibility, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a promising alternative fabrication method for these materials. This thesis presents a preliminary study on the 3D printing of fungal mycelium-based composites, with a specific focus on a composite consisting of hemp fibre reinforcement bound by a fungal mycelium matrix derived from Pleurotus ostreatus. The study aims to expand the design possibilities and enhance the application potential of MBCs by developing an extrudable mixture suitable for 3D printing through the material extrusion process. Additionally, the thesis deepens the basic mechanical and morphological properties of the created extrudable mixture to assess its viability for AM applications. This thesis offers, therefore, preliminary insights for further developing and utilising mycelium-based composites in the construction field and other industries. By exploring the feasibility of AM techniques for MBC fabrication, this research lays the groundwork for future advancements in sustainable materials and manufacturing technologies within the circular economy framework. The potential to create complex, high-performance structures from biodegradable materials could revolutionise various sectors, driving a more sustainable approach to production and consumption.
La necessità urgente di mitigare gli impatti ambientali sta stimolando la transizione da un'economia lineare ad un'economia circolare. In questo contesto, lo sviluppo di materiali compositi derivati da risorse rinnovabili e tecnologie sostenibili rappresenta una strategia promettente per supportare tale transizione. All’interno di questa classe di materiali, i compositi a base di micelio (MBC) hanno attirato una notevole attenzione in quanto consentono di trasformare rifiuti organici a basso costo in schiume polimeriche rispettose dell’ambiente, leggere e biodegradabili. Nonostante il loro potenziale, le tecniche di stampaggio convenzionali limitano le potenzialità progettuali degli MBC, restringendo la gamma di applicazioni possibili. Per superare tale limitazione e ottenere una maggiore flessibilità progettuale, la manifattura additiva (AM) è emersa come un metodo di fabbricazione alternativo promettente per tali materiali. Questa tesi presenta uno studio preliminare sulla stampa 3D di materiali compositi a base di micelio fungino, con un focus specifico su un composito costituito da rinforzo in fibra di canapa legato da una matrice di micelio fungino derivato dal Pleurotus ostreatus. Lo studio mira ad ampliare le possibilità progettuali e a migliorare il potenziale applicativo degli MBC sviluppando una miscela estrudibile adatta alla stampa 3D attraverso il processo ad estrusione di materiale. Inoltre, lo studio approfondisce le proprietà meccaniche e morfologiche di base della miscela estrudibile per valutarne la fattibilità per applicazioni AM. Il presente lavoro di tesi si propone quindi di fornire indicazioni preliminari per lo sviluppo e l'utilizzo di materiali compositi a base di micelio nel settore delle costruzioni, ma anche in altri ambiti. Esplorando la fattibilità delle tecniche AM per la fabbricazione degli MBC, questa ricerca pone le basi per futuri progressi nei materiali sostenibili e nelle tecnologie di produzione all'interno del quadro dell'economia circolare. La possibilità di creare strutture complesse e ad alte prestazioni da materiali biodegradabili potrebbe rivoluzionare vari settori industriali, promuovendo un approccio più sostenibile alla produzione e al consumo.
3D Printable Fungal Mycelium-based composite: a preliminary study
Ramos Montilla, Natalia
2023/2024
Abstract
The urgent need to mitigate environmental impacts has prompted a transition from a linear to a circular economy. In this context, developing composite materials derived from renewable resources and sustainable technologies has emerged as a viable strategy to support this transition. Among these materials, mycelium-based composites (MBCs) have received significant attention due to their potential to transform low-cost organic wastes into environmentally friendly, polymer-grade foams that are lightweight and biodegradable. Despite their promise, conventional moulding techniques limit the design potential of MBCs, restricting their range of applications. To address this limitation and achieve greater design flexibility, Additive Manufacturing (AM) has emerged as a promising alternative fabrication method for these materials. This thesis presents a preliminary study on the 3D printing of fungal mycelium-based composites, with a specific focus on a composite consisting of hemp fibre reinforcement bound by a fungal mycelium matrix derived from Pleurotus ostreatus. The study aims to expand the design possibilities and enhance the application potential of MBCs by developing an extrudable mixture suitable for 3D printing through the material extrusion process. Additionally, the thesis deepens the basic mechanical and morphological properties of the created extrudable mixture to assess its viability for AM applications. This thesis offers, therefore, preliminary insights for further developing and utilising mycelium-based composites in the construction field and other industries. By exploring the feasibility of AM techniques for MBC fabrication, this research lays the groundwork for future advancements in sustainable materials and manufacturing technologies within the circular economy framework. The potential to create complex, high-performance structures from biodegradable materials could revolutionise various sectors, driving a more sustainable approach to production and consumption.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/223562